Australian Musician Denied US Re-entry Amid Visa Controversy
An Australian musician was compelled to end his North American tour prematurely after US officials denied him re-entry, leading to an apology from his girlfriend regarding an online post about Donald Trump.
Keli Holiday, widely recognized as one half of the electronic duo Peking Duk, had completed several performances in the United States before traveling to Toronto, Canada.
Last Friday, upon attempting to return to the US for a scheduled concert in New York, Holiday was "detained" at the border despite possessing the appropriate visa documentation, according to his statement.
Apology Issued by Partner Over Past Trump-Related Post
On Tuesday, Abbie Chatfield, Holiday's partner who is a podcaster and television host, issued an apology for a July 2025 social media post critical of Donald Trump, clarifying that Holiday was unaware of the content.
Holiday, whose birth name is Adam Hyde, shared details about the border incident on social media over the weekend.
"I have spent all day detained at the Canadian border and denied entry back into the US despite having the proper visa documentation in place,"
"I'm still trying to get clarity on the situation myself."
Details on Chatfield's Apology and Context of the Post
Chatfield addressed the issue on Tuesday, responding to online speculation that her previous video might have contributed to Holiday's ban.
In the video, she discussed Luigi Mangione, an American man accused of fatally shooting Brian Thompson, the head of UnitedHealthcare, in December 2024.
Mangione is scheduled to face both state and federal trials later this year concerning the alleged murder.
"A video that I posted a year ago has come back to haunt me, essentially,"
Chatfield stated shortly after confirmation that Holiday had returned to Australia.
She emphasized that her earlier video had been misunderstood and that she did not advocate for any political violence against Donald Trump.
"I also want to make it clear Adam hadn't even seen this video, so any vitriol toward him is unwarranted,"
Chatfield's apology was delivered in a video approximately ten minutes in length.
Additional Information and Official Responses
The BBC has reached out to Holiday's management for further comment regarding the situation.
This incident occurs in the context of recent US proposals requiring foreign tourists to submit a five-year history of their social media activity as a condition for entry.
