The debate over freedom of expression in Italy has been reignited after a top Italian comedian decided to withdraw from the Sanremo Music Festival.
Andrea Pucci, one of Italy’s most popular stand-up comedians, had been expected to take part in hosting at the Sanremo Festival, running from February 24 to February 28, 2026.
More than a music competition, Sanremo is a national cultural ritual: It shapes mainstream Italian music, sparks political and social debate and for one week each year dominates the country’s media landscape.
In recent years, the festival has faced criticism for allegedly becoming a platform for “woke” culture and political attacks on Italy’s right-leaning government.
Following days of mounting criticism, threats directed at him and his family, and accusations of being “fascist”, Pucci announced yesterday that he would not participate.
In a statement, he described the threats and insults as “incomprehensible and unacceptable” and rejected labels such as “fascist,” “homophobic,” or “racist”.
“In 2026, the term ‘fascist’ should no longer exist,” Pucci said. “There are people on the right and people on the left who think differently, but who confront each other within a democratic system that, fortunately, governs our country.
“Homophobia and racism imply hatred toward human beings and I have never hated anyone.”
The controversy stemmed mainly from Pucci’s comedic style, which critics described as “divisive” and incompatible with the inclusive values they believe Sanremo should represent, amid the perception that he is right-leaning.
His popularity comes from sketches about women and domestic life within couples — material some observers consider occasionally homophobic or reinforcing patriarchal culture. Pucci has never engaged in political satire and is not affiliated with any political party.
This combination of factors contributed to his unpopularity among segments of the intellectual and cultural world associated with leftist or “woke” perspectives. When his participation was announced, activists and commentators questioned whether he was suitable for a festival broadcast by the public service broadcaster RAI and watched by millions of Italians.
Pucci’s decision to withdraw sparked an uproar. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called it “unacceptable that ideological pressure forces an artist to give up their work” and criticised what she described as the Left’s double standards on satire.
Supporters argued the backlash was less about comedy and more about enforcing ideological conformity, accusing critics of trying to dictate acceptable opinions and pressuring organisers to exclude voices that do not align with prevailing cultural narratives.
While avoiding direct political confrontation in his final remarks, Pucci stressed that the conditions for open expression were no longer present. “Comedy requires freedom and lightness,” he said, suggesting these qualities had been lost amid the controversy.
The episode adds to a growing list of disputes surrounding Sanremo, which in recent years has become a stage for cultural and political signalling. Organisers maintain the festival’s artistic neutrality but critics argue that participation is increasingly subject to informal ideological screening.
The incident also sheds light on a long-debated issue in Italy: The perceived cultural dominance of the Left in media, culture and entertainment, which critics argue the Meloni government has so far been unable to impact.
