British rock band Muse and Norwegian singer-songwriter Ane Brun have canceled their upcoming concerts in Istanbul following widespread calls for boycott from Turkish fans against the shows' promoter.
Muse announced this week that their June 11 concert will be postponed until 2026, specifically to avoid working with current promoter DBL Entertainment. The decision came after thousands of Turkish fans flooded the band's social media with requests to cancel the show, citing DBL's connections to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government.
The controversy stems from recent political tensions in Turkey, where mass protests erupted following the arrest of Istanbul's opposition mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. DBL Entertainment's owner Abdulkadir Ozkan drew criticism after calling these demonstrations "treason," leading to the company being added to a growing boycott list.
"After careful consideration and hearing the feedback from our fans whilst fully respecting their concerns, our show in Istanbul will be postponed until 2026 so we can ensure DBL Entertainment will not be involved," Muse stated on Instagram.
Similarly, Ane Brun announced the cancellation of her October performance in Istanbul. "I was so looking forward to playing for you, my Turkish fans, but unfortunately, this is not the right time," Brun shared on social media, expressing solidarity with her Turkish audience.
These cancellations follow comedian Trevor Noah's earlier decision to cancel his DBL-promoted show in Istanbul, marking the first major international artist to respond to the boycott calls.
The boycott movement has expanded beyond entertainment venues to include various businesses perceived as having close ties to President Erdogan's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). The campaign gained momentum after opposition leader Ozgur Ozel encouraged citizens to avoid patronizing companies aligned with the government.
Recent protests have seen over 1,400 people detained, including many college students. Demonstrators are calling for addressing various issues, including the ongoing cost of living crisis, judicial independence, and the release of detained protest leaders.