Hasan Piker, the prominent Twitch streamer known as HasanAbi, ignited a political controversy this weekend after revealing that he can no longer enter the United Kingdom. During a livestream on May 31, he disclosed that his UK visa had been revoked, surprising viewers who anticipated his travel to the country for a series of public engagements.
The announcement quickly spread across social media, drawing reactions from both supporters and critics. What began as a discussion about travel restrictions evolved into a broader debate on free speech, political double standards, and international tensions surrounding political commentary.
HasanAbi Says UK Visa Cancelled Before Planned Events
Speaking to his audience, Hasan explained that he recently discovered his UK visa was no longer valid. The revocation jeopardized several commitments, including appearances with high-profile political figures and a scheduled visit to the Oxford Union. He stated, “Well, I didn't want to talk about it, but my visa has also been revoked. We just found out. So, yes, I will not be going as it stands currently; I don't believe that I'll be able to go to the United Kingdom this upcoming week. I don't know who to reach out for this. I was supposed to do something with Yanis Varoufakis. Do something with Zack Polanski. Do something with Jeremy Corbyn. Do something at the Oxford Union. And now, the Labour Government has revoked our visas.”
Shortly after the livestream, Hasan took to social media to express his frustration, arguing that Western governments are abandoning the principles they claim to defend. He wrote, “the uk has revoked my visa as well. all at the behest of israel. the west is betraying 'liberal values' for a genocidal fascist foreign government. soon we will all become israel.”
HasanAbi Calls UK Visa Decision a 'Sad State of Affairs'
During the same broadcast, Hasan expanded on his reaction, criticizing what he views as political hypocrisy. He said, “That's a sad state of affairs, where, obviously, the interests of Israel take the highest priority. 'Nick Shirley can go, though.' Of course! Because Nick Shirley is a dog for the fascist state.”
The streamer then delivered a broader critique of political leadership in both the UK and the US, stating, “We are in the 1930s era, where I think that the administrations in both the UK and the United States of America, regardless of their supposed ideological differences, are absolutely moving in as a uni-party, and things are going to get even worse from here on out. Straight up ... fascism. That's it. That's it. Israel is a fascist country, and it gets to enforce its bidding upon other countries in an effort to abide by the wishes of a foreign country, like Israel. The Western liberal democracies that are supposed to protect and preserve speech, even if they don't have the First Amendment like we do here in the United States of America, they're supposed to have reason. Like, good reason. This is not one of them.”
As of now, no official public statement explaining the reported visa decision has been released. Until more information emerges, the controversy is likely to remain a major topic across streaming communities and political circles online.
