Full Breakdown
Protesters Assaulted at New York Boiler Room Event Over KKR Ties
7/14/2026, 8:56:11 PM
Event Overview
On Friday night, July 10, activists staged a “die-in” protest inside Boiler Room’s two-night takeover at the Under The K Bridge venue in New York. The demonstration, organized by the campaign group Boycott Room, aimed to highlight Boiler Room’s connection to the investment firm KKR through its parent company Superstruct Entertainment. Protesters reported that club-goers “assaulted” and “trampled” them during the performance, and footage later showed a demonstrator taken off the stage after attempting to disrupt the set.
Background: Boiler Room, Superstruct Entertainment, and KKR
Superstruct Entertainment, which acquired Boiler Room in 2025, is owned in part by KKR, a U.S. investment firm accused of financing Israeli weapons manufacturing and settlements in the West Bank. Superstruct’s portfolio includes festivals such as Field Day, Mighty Hoopla, Sónar and Tramlines, collectively valued at roughly $1.3 billion. The alleged links have spurred a wave of artist boycotts and public statements from festival organizers.
Official Statements & Responses
Boiler Room acknowledged the incident, noting they had “seen a clip of what appears to show an attendee acting towards a protester in a way that has no place at our events.” The platform added, “We respect the right to peaceful protest, and the wellbeing of everyone at our events matters to us. We’re reviewing what happened and speaking with the venue.” It also urged anyone who believes they were a victim of a crime to contact police.
Criticism & Opposition
Boycott Room condemned the handling of the protest, stating, “The rave went on as usual while our martyrs’ faces were trampled with indifference.” The group accused Boiler Room of “endangering humans to protect their brand.” Artists and festivals have echoed this criticism; 50 musicians, including Massive Attack and Brian Eno, signed an open letter urging Field Day to distance itself from KKR, while eleven artists announced a boycott of the festival in solidarity with Palestine.
Impact on Festivals and Artists
In response to the controversy, several festivals have taken public stances. Tramlines declared it would “never send them a single Euro,” and Mighty Hoopla expressed a “clear opposition to KKR’s unethical investments.” These statements reflect growing pressure on Superstruct-owned events to sever financial ties with KKR.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The rave went on as usual while our martyrs’ faces were trampled with indifference.” — Boycott Room organizer
- “We respect the right to peaceful protest, and the wellbeing of everyone at our events matters to us.” — Boiler Room spokesperson
- “no investor, past or present, has ever influenced our output, this will never change.” — Boiler Room statement
- “never send them a single Euro.” — Tramlines representative
- “clear opposition to KKR’s unethical investments.” — Mighty Hoopla representative
