A cast member from the Royal Opera House raised a Palestinian flag on stage during the curtain call on July 19, 2025.

According to the Telegraph, the cast member was a ‘Queer dance artist,’ Daniel Perry, who took to the flag during the curtain call of the closing night of the Royal Opera House.

The BBC reported that the Royal Ballet and Opera said the protest was “completely inappropriate for a curtain call” and “the display of the flag was spontaneous and unauthorised action by the artist.”

The company added, “It was not approved by the Royal Ballet and Opera and is not in line with our commitment to political impartiality.”

A video was posted to social media that showed a brief scuffle between the artist and Oliver Mears, who tried to take the flag away from the cast member.

Performer unfurls Palestinian flag in Royal Opera House protest

(Credit: sydcas/X) pic.twitter.com/gAifyUBnsp

— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) July 20, 2025

A performer at the Royal Opera House unfurls a Palestinian flag during the curtain call of Saturday’s performance of Il trovatore in Covent Garden, London

Oliver Mears, Director of Opera at the Royal Opera House, tries to grab the flag from the performer

He fails epically pic.twitter.com/Npr02kq0pq

— Armchair Analyst (@ArmchairAn4lyst) July 20, 2025