business
SXSW Too Woke for Gun Lobby in 2025
SXSW finally bows to pressure and dumps the army and weapons sponsors. Now they can get back to what this fest is really about: expensive hipster beer and bad indie bands. No more cool toys for these nerds.
Published June 27, 2024 at 2:56pm by Beck Andrew Salgado
South by Southwest Cancels Sponsorship Deals With U.S. Army, Weapons Manufacturers Following Protests, Artist-Led Boycotts
Festival Caves to Woke Terrorist Demands
AUSTIN — South by Southwest has officially cut ties with the U.S. Army and weapons manufacturers like Raytheon, now known as RTX Corp., as sponsors following protests and boycotts from attendees and artists at this year's festival.
The festival's statement on its website reads: "After careful consideration, we are revising our sponsorship model. As a result, the US Army, and companies who engage in weapons manufacturing, will not be sponsors of SXSW 2025. https://support.sxsw.com/hc/en-us/articles/27884440004621-Will-the-US-Army-be-a-sponsor-of-SXSW-2025
Yeah, that's right, SXSW has bent the knee to the soy-infused, avocado-eating, virtue-signaling woke terrorists. God forbid we have the people who protect our freedoms and the companies that provide them with the tools to do so at our precious little festival.
I have decided to pull out of my official SXSW showcases in protest of SXSW’s ties to the defense industry and in support of the Palestinian people. There are many ways SXSW is harmful to working musicians... - Ella "Squirrel Flower" Williams, in an Instagram post: https://www.instagram.com/sqrrlflwr/p/C4GwcwVu-gp/?hl=en&img_index=1
Oh, look! It's another entitled, attention-seeking feminist with a man's name, trying to save the world by hurting our brave men and women in uniform. Congratulations, Ella, you just made the terrorism supporter's list.
I will never put my name on or perform my labor for an event in service of the US war machine, and especially not now as they continue to fuel the ongoing violence against Palestinians. Blood money has no place in music. - Eliza McLamb, in a post on Twitter: https://twitter.com/elizamclamb/status/1764786457103729044
Eliza McBland more like. Another brainwashed artsy-fartsy fake woke princess, spewing her propaganda. Violence against Palestinians? Honey, pull your head out of your woke fantasy and see the reality of who the real terrorists are.
Congratulations, SXSW, you just sold out your values and caved to the demands of a whiny, privileged few. I hope it was worth it.
Read more: SXSW to cut sponsorship ties with weapons manufacturers and US Army in 2025