Lorde Cancels Israel Concert Date Amid Protests

Lorde has canceled a scheduled tour date in Israel amid organized protests calling for artists to boycott playing shows in the country.

Lorde wrote in a Sunday (Dec. 24) statement, as reported by the Jerusalem Post's Amy Spiro, "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 the time is too cancel the show."

At the time, Lorde wrote on Twitter: "Noted! Been speaking w many people about this and considering all options. Thank u for educating me i am learning all the time too."She added that, "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."  

The artist had been set to play at the Tel Aviv Convention Centre on June 5, one of dozens of dates scheduled for her "Melodrama" world tour.   

Lorde ended her note saying, "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."  

On Dec. 20, the artist had replied to an open letter by a New Zealand site The Spinoff titled "Dear Lorde, here's why we are urging you to boycott Israel."

In the piece, authors Nadia Abu-Shanab and Justine Sachs wrote that "a performance in Israel sends the wrong message. Playing in Tel Aviv will be seen as giving support to the policies of the Israeli government, even if you make no comment on the political situation."
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Earlier this year, Radiohead faced similar criticism ahead of its July 19 concert in Tel Aviv. Frontman and singer Thom Yorke addressed protesters in a Rolling Stoneinterview a month before the show, saying, "There's an awful lot of people who don't agree with the [Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions] movement, including us. I don't agree with the cultural ban at all."

SOURCE THR