SXSW to remove immigration warnings from festival contract
Change, set for 2018 edition, comes after publicized contract details sparked swift reaction online
The South by Southwest festival will remove language from contracts that had warned bands and performers that U.S. immigration agents could be notified over serious contract violations.
SXSW announced the changes Tuesday ahead of the massive music, film and technology showcase starting in Austin, Texas, later this week.
It comes after New York-based musician Felix Walworth, who goes by the stage name Told Slant, announced he was pulling out of the festival over immigration language in his contract.
After looking through this contract sent to me by sxsw I have decided to cancel Told Slant's performance at the festival <a href="https://t.co/rI2Xv0duJl">pic.twitter.com/rI2Xv0duJl</a>
—@Felixixix666Can our first step toward coalition as artists with radical politics be to cancel all our official showcases at sxsw? I'm serious just do it
—@Felixixix666Word of the contract language caused swift reaction on social media and comes amid heightened fears of immigration crackdowns under U.S. President Donald Trump.
After Walworth's original tweets, a petition and an open letter signed by musicians circulated online calling for SXSW to apologize, "immediately drop" the clause from its contract "and cease any collusion with immigration officials that puts performers in danger."
SXSW envelops Austin each year with hundreds of "unofficial" events around the city in addition to the official showcases that require festival credentials.
Festival organizers have said the clause about notifying "appropriate U.S. immigration authorities" had been a safeguard in case artists did something truly egregious, like starting a brawl or causing safety issues.
SXSW says the language will be removed starting in 2018.