Adam Hyde, the musician known as Keli Holiday, has spoken publicly for the first time about being denied entry into the United States earlier this month, an incident that forced him to cut short his North American tour and return to his native Australia.
Hyde Addresses Deportation Claims
The 35-year-old artist discussed the drama during an appearance on Triple M's Mick in the Morning with Roo, Titus and Rosie on Wednesday. He addressed speculation that he had been kicked out over 'national security concerns', though he remained tight-lipped about the specifics.
'I was meant to go to Ol' Mates, I was going to do a surprise set there and have a bunch of fun with a bunch of people,' Hyde said. 'I'm not at liberty to discuss such matters fully at this time. But what I will say, is that I love the United States.'
'I'm gutted I couldn't do the New York City show, and I hope to get back there soon because there are a lot of people wanting a Keli Holiday show, and I want to bring it to them, so we'll see,' he added.
Eurovision Ambitions
Hyde also responded to industry chatter about a potential appearance at next year's Eurovision Song Contest, following Delta Goodrem's impressive run in the 2026 competition. 'I would give it a crack! We could do it,' Hyde confessed when asked about the possibility.
Tour Disruption
Hyde had been scheduled to perform four shows across the United States and Canada between May 1 and May 7, including a highly anticipated performance at New York City's Baby's All Right. However, after successfully completing his Canadian dates in Toronto, he was detained at the US-Canadian border and refused re-entry into America, leading to the abrupt cancellation of his final New York show.
Ticketholders were informed the gig would no longer go ahead, while Hyde revealed that his entire touring party also had their visas revoked. Taking to Instagram, the Peking Duk frontman shared his shock over the ordeal. 'Hello stunnas, unfortunately I'm not going to make it to tonight's show at Baby's All Right in NYC,' he wrote.
National Security Concerns
Hyde, who is well known for being the boyfriend of outspoken podcaster Abbie Chatfield, was denied entry over 'national security concerns'. Ever since he announced his detention at the US-Canadian border, the prevailing assumption has been that his partner's inflammatory social media posts about American politics and President Donald Trump were to blame.
Chatfield did little to dampen this speculation when she posted a 10-minute video statement apologising for a 'joke' from a year ago that some critics interpreted as encouraging harm towards Trump.
Official Response from US Authorities
Inside Mail contacted the White House for comment about why Hyde was refused entry, and our enquiry was directed to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). A spokesperson would not confirm that Chatfield's comments directly affected Hyde's ability to travel, but the statement made two points clear: U.S. authorities were inspecting foreign nationals 'on a case-by-case basis' at the border and that a 'visa is a privilege, not a right'.
'Adam Hyde was not deported,' a CBP spokesperson said via email. 'He was denied entry at Toronto Pearson International Airport on May 7, 2026, due to national security concerns. The Trump Administration is enforcing immigration laws - something the Biden administration failed to do.'
'All persons arriving at a port of entry to the United States are subject to inspection on a case-by-case basis. As part of their critical national security mission, CBP officers routinely determine admissibility of foreign nationals using longstanding U.S. immigration law which lists more than 60 grounds of inadmissibility divided into several major categories. If statutes or visa terms are violated, travellers may be subject to detention and removal. A visa is a privilege, not a right, and only those who respect our laws and follow the proper procedures will be welcomed.'
