Folk-rock performer Dolly Mavies departed a venue in Daylesford, England, after receiving word that JD Vance would be present during his visit to the United Kingdom this summer with his family.
She and her band made the decision to exit the venue upon learning that the vice president would be attending the show. Media outlets extensively covered Vance‘s alleged presence at the venue that day, though a source close to Vance told the BBC that he never intended to attend and was not there.
Mavies, whose real name is Molly Davies, explained that she and her band grew “suspicious” upon arriving at the intimate venue due to “a lot of security around,” which was unusual. She also noted the presence of numerous “police motorbikes and very big cars,” suggesting that a high-profile individual might be in attendance.
In an Instagram video shared after her departure gained widespread attention, Mavies revealed that once she and her band learned of Vance’s expected attendance, “we chose to leave as it wasn’t something that we wanted to be a part of.”
Following her decision to exit the venue, Mavies experienced a surge in social media followers and received countless supportive messages. “Obviously, there’s an overwhelming sense of support in America,” she noted.
Vance faced significant backlash and mockery during his time in the U.K. He and his family took a vacation in the Cotswolds. Most notably, a van was seen displaying a viral meme of Vance bald and with a swollen face.
Residents in the area also disliked the lockdown atmosphere created by the secret service as Vance toured the region. There were road closures, sniffer dogs, and ID checks.
Vance also encountered criticism on American soil. When he recently visited a train station in Washington D.C. to meet with members of the National Guard, Vance was overwhelmed by chants of “Free D.C.,” and one heckler yelled that Vance was a “couch f–ker,” a reference to a claim made in Vance’s memoir.