Brooklyn-based band Geese faced censorship during their acceptance speech at the 2026 BRIT Awards on Saturday night, after drummer Max Bassin used the platform to voice support for Palestine and criticize U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The band won the award for International Group of the Year, beating out Tame Impala, Haim, HUNTR/X and Turnstile.
Bassin delivered a brief statement, saying, “I just want to say, free Palestine, fuck ICE, RIP Mani, let’s head Geese!” While the speech was reportedly broadcast uncensored on the international YouTube livestream, viewers watching on ITV in the UK reported that portions of the speech were bleeped out.
The incident sparked immediate reaction online, with one user on X (formerly Twitter) writing, “the brits censoring free palestine and fuck ice…??? embarrassing on their behalf.”
The awards display, held for the first time in its 47-year history outside of London, at Manchester’s Co-op Live arena, also included a tribute to The Stone Roses and Primal Scream bassist Mani, who died in November 2025. The tribute was led by Tim Burgess of The Charlatans.
Geese’s win comes after a successful 2025, during which their third album, ‘Getting Killed,’ was named the best album of the year by NME. The publication praised the album as “an absurd, poetic explosion of jazz, rock and noise” and a sign that “Latest York – and guitar music at large – is alive and kicking down their front door.”
Prior to the BRIT Awards, Geese made their debut appearance on Saturday Night Live in January, performing tracks “Au Pays du Cocaine” and “Trinidad” with host Teyana Taylor. The band also reportedly spent time in Australia this month collaborating with musicians from Tame Impala, Pond and King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard.
Olivia Dean was the night’s biggest winner, taking home four awards, including Artist of the Year, Song of the Year and Album of the Year.
