New Zealand pop icon Lorde faces backlash for upcoming Israel concert
Kiwi pop icon Lorde is facing backlash for scheduling a concert in Israel for 2018. Her fans demanding that she boycotts the country completely.
Lorde Photo: Facebook
The artist won’t be joining a range of other performers who subscribe to the Boycott Divestment Sanctions Movement, which makes a stand against Israel’s alleged oppression of Palestinians.
Lorde announced her world tour on Twitter, and confirmed she would be performing in Tel Aviv next year on June 5.
The backlash has landed thick and fast from the New Zealand Palestine Solidary Network.
Janie Wakim, spokesperson for the New Zealand Palestine Solidarity Network says: “Israel should be boycotted until it complies with international law and the norms of human society.”
Other fans shared their disappointment, telling Lorde to use her public profile to make a political stand.
“Don’t play in Tel Aviv while they have the Palestinians under a brutal occupation! Very disappointed in you! Boycott Israel,” one fan wrote.
“Please reconsider your date with apartheid #Israel, respect the Palestinian led-boycott & stand with the oppressed against Israel’s brutal Occupation & theft. Would you betray Maoris too,” another tweeted.
Not everyone backs the backlash. Some fans have backed the artist.
“Her not going to Israel won’t change the fact that people suffer in the region,” one tweeted.
“It’s a concert, she’s not funding the government’s party. If artists were to boycott Israel then they would have to cancel US shows too, since Trump is the main supporter of Israel and it’s government.”
