"Controversy Erupts as Bands Withdraw from SXSW Over U.S. Army Sponsorship"

South by Southwest clashed with Texas Governor Greg Abbott after he demanded artists who pulled out of the festival due to US Army involvement not return to Texas, with the festival asserting its respect for the artists' right to free speech. Numerous bands and artists have dropped out in opposition to the US Army's sponsorship, citing protest against its support for Israel. Despite accepting the artists' decisions, SXSW has chosen to maintain its US Army sponsorship to explore emerging technologies and ideas in the defense space, leading to further backlash from artists and ongoing controversy.