Glastonbury sends some of the world's most controversial figures on a cosmic exile.
A spaceship to Mars is taking off from Glastonbury – but only metaphorically.
As part of Block9's latest festival installation, a new political artwork has caused international controversy by artistically launching controversial figures – including J.K. Rowling, Elon Musk, Donald Trump, Jeff Bezos, and others – off the planet.
Titled as “Exiled to Mars” the provocative mural shows an array of powerful public figures in orange space suits (resembling prison suits) boarding a spaceship heading for the red planet.
"The tech bros want to go to Mars, so we’re sending them there",
reads a sign.
Those depicted include tech billionaires like Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Bezos, alongside polarizing political figures such as Trump, Nigel Farage, Benjamin Netanyahu, Vladimir Putin, and Britain’s Prince Andrew.
"There’s room on the rocket for a few more souls. [...] just some of the people who in recent years have made life on earth more difficult for the rest of us.”
Passengers like Jeff Bezos, recently criticized for an ostentatious wedding in Venice, and Elon Musk, accused of amplifying far-right content on X (and this is only one of the many reasons people find him to be controversial), are clear targets of the mural’s message.
The art represents a condemnation of wealth hoarding and global political interference.
Another sign reads:
“We don’t need to live on Mars. We need to protect our planet and celebrate the fact that Earth is the only place for humanity to thrive. So let’s send them to Mars while we party on Earth.”
The satirical piece follows cultural trends of political critique such as the rise of the “Eat the Rich” sentiment, seen in everything from protest popsicles in New York and LA to anti-billionaire satire at festivals and fashion shows.
"The Coolest I've Ever Looked"
Perhaps most debated among the passengers of the artwork is Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling.
She is depicted smoking a cigar – a pose echoing her earlier celebratory post after the UK Supreme Court ruled in favor of "biological definitions" of womanhood, a decision widely criticized by trans rights activists.
Her increasingly polarizing statements towards trans people have led former Harry Potter stars – including Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint – to distance themselves from her views.
Pedro Pascal, as well as Rowling’s former friend, author and broadcaster Stephen Fry, have also publicly disagreed with her.
I'm really confused. Am I supposed to feel insulted? That's the coolest I've ever looked in my life.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 27, 2025
Rowling herself responded on X (formerly Twitter) after feminist author Julie Bindel sarcastically called the image “lesbian icon” material. Rowling wrote:
"I’m really confused. Am I supposed to feel insulted? That’s the coolest I’ve ever looked in my life."
While some celebrate Rowling for her "protection of women's rights" and bash on the art installation for being a hateful attack, not everyone agrees with the Harry-Potter-writer.
One Instagram user comments:
“She thinks she’s the coolest she’s ever looked in a portrait literally labeling her as a fascist. That should tell you everything you need to know about her.”
Elon Musk's Work Crushed – Literally
Beside the mural stands a Tesla vehicle with a license plate reading “FACISM” flattened beneath a massive shipping container.
The car was ceremonially crushed by 98-year-old World War II veteran Ken Turner, who piloted an army tank over the vehicle.
“I’m old enough to have seen fascism the first time around. Now it’s coming back. Elon Musk, the richest man in the world, is using his immense power to support the far-right in Europe. His money comes from Tesla cars,”
Turner said.
“We’ve crushed fascism before, and we’ll crush it again.”
Art as Protest
Block9 – a legendary clubbing space at Glastonbury – created by design duo Steven Gallagher and Gideon Berger is known for its fusion of radical politics, nightlife, and massive art installations.
The venue place has long been a haven for counterculture and protest.
This year’s collaboration with Led By Donkeys fits right in. With venues like NYC Downlow and Genosys throwing parties celebrating “freedom of expression in all its forms,” the mural was as much political protest as performance art.
Led By Donkeys have long used satire to challenge political hypocrisy.
They are known for its massive public installations targeting what the group calls “thermonuclear hypocrisy” in British politics.
The Mars mural fits right in with their work and launches a broader critique of wealth inequality, right-wing populism, climate apathy, and attacks on civil rights.