Dua Lipa’s NYC lunch with her dad follows firing of agent amid Kneecap Glastonbury controversy

Dua Lipa was photographed having lunch with her father, Dukagjin Lipa, in New York City on Sunday, a moment that drew attention not only for the singer’s chic look but also for the context surrounding her current representation. Lipa wore a high-neck black midi dress with a structural corset bodice, black sunglasses, and peep-toe Christian Louboutin heels. She carried a cheetah-print designer handbag and smiled as she paused to pose with fans, a moment that underscored her polished public persona as she navigates a high-profile industry controversy surrounding her past representation.

The outing arrives amid renewed scrutiny of Lipa’s professional ties after reports that she terminated her longtime agent following his role in pressuring Glastonbury to bar pro-Palestinian rappers Kneecap from performing at the festival. According to multiple outlets, including The Mail on Sunday, David Levy, who had represented Lipa, was among the signatories on a letter urging festival organizers to drop Kneecap, a Belfast rap duo accused by supporters of advocating for Palestinian causes. The letter, described by sources as private and confidential, was later leaked and amplified by media reports.

A music industry source cited in the reporting said Lipa “made sure through her people that David Levy wasn’t working on her music any more,” emphasizing that she was “very openly pro-Palestine” and that Levy’s stance did not align with hers. The source added that Lipa remained with William Morris Endeavor, but under representation by a different agent at the agency. Kneecap ultimately performed at Glastonbury, and authorities did not pursue further action despite some complaints, according to the same coverage.

The shift in representation comes as Lipa’s circle reassessed professional ties in light of the letter and its fallout. The singer’s team has not publicly commented on the specifics of Levy’s departure, but industry chatter has tied the move to the disagreement over Kneecap’s Glastonbury appearance.

Dua Lipa’s personal life was also in focus during the NYC outing. She flashed a diamond engagement ring from fiancé Callum Turner, who proposed last Christmas in a moment widely covered by entertainment media. The ring’s value has been estimated in the range of £62,000 to £93,000, a detail often cited in coverage of her relationship and public appearances with Turner. Turner, an actor, announced the engagement late last year, and the couple has since been a frequent presence in entertainment news cycles. The engagement ring and the couple’s plans have been a recurring footnote in stories about Lipa’s offstage life.

Lipa’s father, Dukagjin Lipa, who also serves as her manager, was seen chatting on his phone while wearing a plain black jumper and striped trousers. Dukagjin’s role in coordinating his daughter’s career has long been integral to Lipa’s professional team, and his public presence during the NYC lunch added a familial note to the event. The two have navigated the intersection of fame and family at a pace that keeps them in the public eye, particularly as Lipa continues to shape her image and brand amid evolving conversations about the industry’s handling of political content.

Beyond the Glastonbury controversy, the Kneecap episode has drawn attention to a broader debate within the music industry about artistic expression, political advocacy, and the boundaries of industry support. Kneecap themselves performed at Glastonbury, drawing complaints from some attendees that led to police involvement, though officials did not take further action. The group’s activities at Coachella earlier in the year had also generated discussion about the boundaries of protest and the display of symbols associated with various political movements.

The reporting surrounding Levy’s involvement and the letter to Glastonbury founder Michael Eavis and his daughter Emily Eavis has been described in different terms by outlets, but the central thread remains clear: Lipa’s camp has since moved to reposition her representation while maintaining a public stance on Palestine. People familiar with the matter have indicated that the shift does not reflect a change in Lipa’s core artistic team overall, but rather a recalibration of her代理 representation within William Morris Endeavor. In the same period, Lipa’s advocacy for Palestinian rights continued to surface in interviews and social media posts, aligning with her public statements about Gaza and humanitarian concerns.

In the months since the Kneecap controversy first emerged, Lipa has continued to balance high-profile professional commitments with personal milestones, including engagement news and family-centered public appearances. While the exact timeline and internal negotiations around representation remain matters for her management and agents to address, the NYC lunch served as a visible reminder of her capacity to blend fashion-forward appearances with the more complicated narratives that follow major contemporary artists.

The broader context includes ongoing discussions about how artists respond to political events and how management teams navigate public statements and affiliations. As Lipa’s story moves forward, observers will be watching how her public-facing image evolves in tandem with her professional collaborations, as well as how her advocacy for Palestine factors into future tours, collaborations, and media appearances.