Yahoo News Lorde cancels concert in Israel after Palestine protests
Lorde has pulled the plug on her planned concert at the Tel Aviv Convention Center, Israel, in 2018.
Confirming the decision over the Christmas weekend, Lorde, 21, said it was ‘the right decision at this time’, after pressure from Palestinian activists over Israel’s human rights record.
The Jerusalem Post journalist Amy Spiro confirmed the move on Twitter.
It's official, Lorde has canceled her Tel Aviv show in Israel after pressure from BDS. Local organizers say ticket holders will be refunded.
— Amy Spiro (@AmySpiro) December 24, 2017
Lorde had one tour date planned for Tel Aviv but after public outcry she agree to cancel it.
Since the singer announced two stops in Russia and one in Tel Aviv on Twitter last week, she was bombarded with calls for her to cancel the Israel show. Nobody seemed to have a problem with her concerts in Russia, that bastion of human rights.
— Amy Spiro (@AmySpiro) December 24, 2017
Spiro went on to detail the reasons, as the singer received both praise and criticism for it.
Despite active BDS efforts, there are few artists who have canceled already scheduled shows for Israel: in 2015 Lauryn Hill canceled a show, and in 2010 Elvis Costello did as well.
— Amy Spiro (@AmySpiro) December 24, 2017
As some have noted, a lot of other big names have travelled to and performed in Tel Aviv, such as Justin Bieber, Rihanna, and Britney Spears.
Spiro went on to list a number artists that, despite receiving similar pleas, went on to perform their respective concerts there.
Meanwhile, even 280 characters isn't enough to list all the huge acts who have showed up in Tel Aviv in the past few years, including Justin Bieber, Radiohead, Lady Gaga, Guns N' Roses, Aerosmith, Rihanna, Britney Spears, Sia, Bon Jovi, Justin Timberlake and much much more.
— Amy Spiro (@AmySpiro) December 24, 2017
And she shared the singer’s statement, detailing why she chose to cancel.
In it, Lorde addressed the issue surrounding her June 5 gig and how she prides herself on being an ‘informed young citizen’.
‘Hey guys, so about this israel show – i’ve received an overwhelming number of messages & letters and have had a lot of discussions with people holding many views, and i think the right decision at this time is to cancel the show.
‘i pride myself on being an informed young citizen, and i have done a lot of reading and sought a lot of opinions before deciding to book a show in tel aviv, but i’m not proud to admit i didn’t make the right call on this one.’
Here is @Lorde's statement on the cancellation of her Tel Aviv show, via Israeli PR for the concert. pic.twitter.com/Ph0uGHRjCV
— Amy Spiro (@AmySpiro) December 24, 2017
She concluded her statement: ‘Tel Aviv, it’s been a dream of mine to visit this beautiful part of the world for many years, and i’m truly sorry to reverse my commitment to come play for you. i hope one day we can all dance.’
The cancellation comes after an open letter was published on website The Spinoff, titled ‘Dear Lorde, here’s why we are urging you to boycott Israel’.
In it, authors Nadia Abu-Shanab and Justine Sachs says that going to Israel would send a damaging message and, despite the singer making no direct political statement, her attendance would silently support the Israeli government’s policies.
Upon reading the post, Lorde tweeted to her seven million followers: ‘Noted! Been speaking w many about this and considering all option. Thank u for educating me i am learning all the time too’.
Noted! Been speaking w many people about this and considering all options. Thank u for educating me i am learning all the time too
— Lorde (@lorde) December 21, 2017
And it seems the letter worked, because since her 21 December acknowledgement the singer changed her mind on the concert within a matter of days.
Yahoo Celeb has reached out to Lorde for comment.
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