The UK government has revoked the electronic travel authorization (ETA) of US-based influencer Valentina Gomez, preventing her from entering the country ahead of a far-right rally in London. The decision was made on public interest grounds, with Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood personally intervening to cancel the approval granted just days earlier.
Officials stated that Gomez’s presence in the UK would not serve the public good. She was scheduled to speak at the “Unite the Kingdom” rally on May 16, an event organized by far-right activist Tommy Robinson. Gomez had previously appeared at a similar gathering in September, where she joined Robinson and made inflammatory statements targeting Muslim communities.
In a significant development, this move aligns with recent actions by British authorities, who also withdrew rapper Kanye West’s ETA earlier this month due to concerns over antisemitic and extremist remarks.
A government source emphasized that while freedom of expression is upheld, it does not extend to promoting hatred or extremist views. This stance reflects growing pressure on the Home Office to enforce consistent standards, especially after public calls from figures such as crossbench peer Shaista Gohir, who urged authorities to deny Gomez entry.
The previous “Unite the Kingdom” rally attracted tens of thousands of participants and featured several controversial speakers. Notably, tech billionaire Elon Musk addressed the event remotely, drawing criticism from Downing Street over what was described as “dangerous and inflammatory” rhetoric.
