The Smile Clinic Group, which runs a chain of 14 dental practices and a Dental Academy, has cancelled Wiley from the line-up in its upcoming “Birthday Bash” for dentists.

The joint CEOs of the Smile Clinic Group and directors of the Dental Academy, Kishan Patel and Jinesh Vaghela styled themselves as “Dr Krish” and “Dr Jin” on their invite to the “Birthday Bash”.  The event features acts including Heartless Crew, Panjabi Hit Squad and So Solid Crew.  However, the headline act was “Wiley”, a notorious grime artist who has been kicked off Twitter (now X) and Instagram, dropped by his manager, and stripped of his MBE over his antisemitic posts.

The advertisement for the event was sent out from Dr Jinesh Vaghela’s professional work email address from the Smile Clinic Group, and is being promoted as the ‘biggest party in dentistry’. The promotional flier also features the Smile Clinic Group logo.  The Eventbrite advert stated that the event is organised by Smile Dental Academy.  It is clearly a professional corporate dental event, and not a private party.

UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) was asked to intervene by Jewish dentists who felt that the event was divisive and non-inclusive.  They explained that Jewish dentists would not be comfortable attending such an event knowing of Wiley’s history as an antisemite, and especially considering the rise in antisemitism over the last year.

UKLFI pointed out to Dr Jin and Dr Krish that, given Wiley’s outright antisemitic comments and their own high profile as dentists and owners of a large group of dental practices, featuring Wiley at this event would bring the dental profession into disrepute.

It would also breach General Dental Council (GDC) standards including general principle number 9 which says: Make sure your personal behaviour maintains patients’ confidence in you and the dental profession”

We are delighted to report that in response to UKLFI’s letter, Smile Academy has cancelled Wiley’s invitation to perform at the event.

Caroline Turner, director of UKLFI commented: “We are pleased that Smile Academy took these views into account and cancelled the divisive act. We hope that the party goes well and that all dentists can now enjoy it.”