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World-famous rock band Muse has postponed its Istanbul concert, originally set for June 11, 2025, to 2026 following calls for a boycott of DBL Entertainment on social media after former Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu’s arrest over corruption. The band announced the decision on its X account Wednesday, citing concerns over its association with event organizer DBL Entertainment.
"After careful consideration and hearing the feedback from our fans whilst fully respecting their concerns, our show in Istanbul will be now postponed until 2026 so we can ensure DBL Entertainment will not be involved," Muse said in its statement.
The decision follows mounting controversy surrounding DBL Entertainment and its owner, Abdulkadir Ozkan, who came under fire for comments regarding political protests in Türkiye.
After careful consideration and hearing the feedback from our fans whilst fully respecting their concerns, our show in Istanbul will be now postponed until 2026 so we can ensure DBL Entertainment will not be involved.
Thank you for your ongoing support, it means everything to…
— muse (@muse) April 2, 2025
DBL Entertainment, an organizer for major international musicians in Türkiye, has faced intense backlash after comments made by its owner, Abdulkadir Ozkan, regarding protests and boycott campaigns related to former Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu’s arrest over corruption case.
Social media users amplified calls for a boycott, condemning Ozkan’s stance on the protests surrounding Imamgolu’s arrest.
Muse is not the only international act affected by the controversy. Earlier, world-renowned comedian Trevor Noah canceled his April 23 show in Istanbul following similar boycott calls against DBL Entertainment.
The event's cancellation was announced on ticket sales websites, although no official reason was provided for the decision.
Additionally, the poster for Noah's show was removed from DBL Entertainment's website.
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