Jewish families who attended Capital FM’s Jingle Bell Ball were distressed to see pro-Palestine slogans on stage.  UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) has written to Global Media and Entertainment following complaints about political messaging at what was promoted as a family-friendly music event.

UKLFI was contacted by several Jewish families who attended the event at London’s O2 Arena on 5 December 2025. They felt distressed and intimidated after a member of the band Rizzle Kicks appeared on stage wearing a T-shirt bearing the words “Palestine” on the front and “Gaza” on the back.

Families reported that they had deliberately chosen the event because it was advertised as non-political, hoping to provide their children with an enjoyable evening free from the tensions and antisemitism they have increasingly encountered elsewhere.

One family, who attended with children aged 12 and 15, said that seeing political slogans displayed on stage had a significant impact on their experience. A family member felt compelled to leave the arena during the performance and only returned once the set had finished. Another family reported that their children, who have already faced antisemitism in recent years, were deeply upset to find that even a charity music event offered no respite.

UKLFI pointed out to Global Media and Entertainment, the owner of Capital FM, that in the context of the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel and the sharp rise in antisemitic incidents since October 2023, such political displays are reasonably perceived by many Jewish audience members as hostile and offensive. UKLFI argues that allowing political slogans at a family entertainment event risked creating an intimidating and distressing environment for Jewish attendees.

A spokesperson for UKLFI said:
“These families were not attending a political rally; they were taking their children to what was marketed as a festive, family-friendly music event. At a time when antisemitism has risen dramatically, Jewish audiences are entitled to expect that public entertainment venues will not expose them to political messaging that they reasonably experience as hostile or intimidating.”

UKLFI has raised concerns that Global, as the event organiser and service provider, may have breached section 29 of the Equality Act 2010, which prohibits harassment of service users. Harassment is defined in the Act as including unwanted conduct related to a protected characteristic, such as ethnicity or religion, that has the purpose or effect of violating a person’s dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment. UKLFI notes that Jewish people are protected under the Act on the basis of both ethnicity and religion.

The organisation has asked Global to confirm what steps it will take to ensure that future events remain politically neutral and welcoming to all audience members. UKLFI has requested that performers at similar family-oriented events be instructed not to wear clothing or display paraphernalia carrying political slogans or messages.

UKLFI says it hopes Global will take the concerns of Jewish families seriously to ensure that public entertainment events can be enjoyed by all without fear of intimidation or exclusion.