Sunday, 22 December 2024
Sunday, 22 December 2024
The conflict in Israel and Palestine has put artists in a precarious position, where their musical legacies are now intertwined with political stances. The price they pay for taking a stand—whether in favour of or against either side—can often be steep, ranging from public backlash to career repercussions.
Thom Yorke
Thom Yorke, lead singer of Radiohead and The Smile, was recently confronted by an audience member at his solo concert in Melbourne last month. The individual shouted about the conflict in Gaza, questioning Yorke’s silence. Yorke responded by inviting the person to the stage, calling out their 'cowardice.' Yorke then left the stage, but he returned to play Radiohead’s “Karma Police.” His previous defence of Radiohead's performances in Israel and stance against the BDS movement (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions is a Palestinian-led movement for freedom, justice and equality) has attracted significant criticism.
Jonny Greenwood
Yorke’s bandmate, Jonny Greenwood, has similarly faced backlash. Greenwood, whose wife is Israeli artist Sharona Katan, collaborated with Israeli musician Dudu Tassa on the album Jarak Qaribak. After performing in Tel Aviv, Greenwood defended his work on X/Twitter, calling the silencing of Israeli artists unproductive. His comments were met with controversy, especially given the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Roger Waters
Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters is one of the most vocal pro-Palestinian advocates in the music industry. He’s faced significant backlash, including accusations of antisemitism (including by former band mate David Gilmour), for supporting the BDS movement and publicly criticising Israeli policies. His outspoken views have led to cancelled concerts and bans from certain venues, especially in Germany, where his shows were cancelled due to pressure from pro-Israel groups. The music rights company BMG also parted ways with the Pink Floyd co-founder earlier this year over comments he made about Israel.
Coldplay
During their headlining performance at Glastonbury in June, Coldplay’s frontman Chris Martin aimed to express unity by inviting the crowd to send love to “everyone,” including people in conflict zones such as Israel, Palestine, and Ukraine. While Martin likely intended this as a gesture of peace, many viewers took offence, particularly those who felt that his inclusivity undermined the severity of the violence in Gaza. Criticism on social media accused the band of moral neutrality, with some fans calling it an act of “normalising genocide." "How is it that you invite a Palestinian artist to your stage and then at the same concert tell the audience they can send love to the state that's murdering Palestinians daily," asked one user on X.
Madonna
Madonna faced backlash from pro-Palestinian activists for her performance in Tel Aviv during the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest. In her performance in May, 2019, the singer had injected some politics into her act with a call for peace in the lyrics of her song 'Future,' which featured two of her dancers wearing Israeli and Palestinian flags on their backs. During her Celebration tour at London's O2 Arena in October 2023, she delivered a poignant statement about the Israel-Hamas conflict, expressing heartbreak over the violence affecting innocent lives. With tears, she condemned the brutality, stating, “What’s happening right now between Israel and Palestine is heartbreaking... How can human beings be so cruel to one another?”
Dua Lipa
In May, Dua Lipa shared a post supporting Palestinians, specifically criticising violence in Gaza. Reposting a graphic from the group Artists4Ceasefire, along with the hashtag #AllEyesOnRafah, she wrote: “Burning children alive can never be justified. The whole world is mobilising to stop the Israeli genocide. Please show your solidarity with Gaza.” Her post, sparked considerable backlash, including being called out in an Israeli rap song advocating violence against pro-Palestine public figures. Lipa responded by emphasising that her heritage and experiences give her a deep-rooted empathy for humanitarian causes, regardless of potential backlash. On October 25, 2023, Dua Lipa was among 120 prominent figures in entertainment who signed an open letter urging US President Joe Biden to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Prior to the 2023 escalation of the conflict, in 2020 she re-posted an Instagram post that criticised the IDF and called for Palestinian independence.
Kris Kristofferson
Kris Kristofferson was another notable artist who faced consequences for his political activism. A long-time supporter of Palestinian rights, Kristofferson stated that he experienced a considerable lack of work after performing concerts for Palestinian children. "I found a considerable lack of work after doing concerts for Palestinian children.. if that's the way it has to be, that's the way it has to be. If you support human rights, you gotta support them everywhere," he said.
Halsey
American singer-songwriter Halsey, known for her outspoken views on various social issues, had addressed the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in a heartfelt Instagram post in November, 2023. She had explained her previous silence, revealing that she had received violent threats related to her support for Palestine, which included her home being swatted multiple times. These incidents escalated to the point where snipers were required at her summer shows for safety. Halsey emphasised her commitment to protecting her family from individuals who might enact violence in response to her opinions.
Damon Albarn
Blur frontman Damon Albarn addressed the crowd about Palestine at Glastonbury on June, 2024. The singer asked whether they were pro-Palestine and whether they felt it was an unfair war, which was met with approving cheers. His comments, along with his positioning near the Palestine flag, were widely discussed online, and while he received support, some reactions criticised his stance as politically one-sided.
Zayn Malik
Singer Zayn Malik has been a vocal supporter of Palestine, first drawing attention in 2014 when he tweeted "#FreePalestine" during the Israeli bombardment of Gaza. This tweet sparked outrage among fans in Israel, leading to severe backlash, with some suggesting that One Direction would lose its fan base in the country. The reactions included extreme threats, with one user urging Malik to “kill himself” and another threatening, “let me kill you.” More recently, in May 2024, Malik reiterated his stance by posting an info-graphic on Instagram that outlined the situation in Sheikh Jarrah, stating in the caption that he "stands with the Palestinian people and supports their resistance to colonisation."
Selena Gomez
Adding to the roster of artists navigating this complex landscape is Selena Gomez, who spoke out about the Israel-Palestine conflict in November, 2023 on her Instagram. While she condemned the violence against innocent civilians, she expressed doubts about the impact of her post despite being one of the most followed people on the Internet, explaining her previous silence on the matter. This stance did not sit well with her fans as one X user wrote, “being neutral while knowing all the facts is just like you are supporting the oppressors.”
