Lorde Cancels Tel Aviv Concert: ‘Right Decision At This Time’
Lorde performing in 2014. Image by Getty
(JTA) — Pop star Lorde said in an statement it is the “right decision at this time” to cancel a summer concert in Israel.
The singer, 21, said that she educated herself about Israel before booking the June concert announced a week ago but that “I didn’t make the right call on this one.”
In a statement distributed on social media and by her booking agency, Lorde wrote: “i’ve received an overwhelming number of messages and 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 had done a lot of reading and sought a lot of opinions before deciding to book a show in tel aviv, but I’m not too proud to admit i didn’t make the right call on this one. 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. L x”
Lorde announced the cancellation after pro-Palestinian fans in her native New Zealand criticized her. Israeli concert organizers announced the cancellation Sunday night and said ticket sales would be refunded.
Israel’s Culture Minister Miri Regev urged Lorde to reconsider her decision in a statement issued Sunday night after Israeli news reports that the concert would be cancelled.
“Lorde, I expect you to be a ‘pure heroine’ like the title of your first album. A pure heroine of culture, void of any foreign political considerations, not to mention delusional ones,” Regev said.
The New Zealand Jewish Council responded to the cancellation by its local music icon.
“We are deeply disappointed that Lorde has succumbed to a small but loud group of extremist bullies. Boycotts of Israel will not lead to peace. Those who advocate them are not interested in negotiations between the two sides to this conflict or a two-state solution,” spokesperson for the Council, Juliet Moses, said.
Did you know that only 2% of Forward readers donate to support our nonprofit newsroom? That 2% make it possible for millions to read the Forward without a paywall or subscription — removing any barriers to the full and fair Jewish story.
But while the Forward is free to read, it isn’t free to produce. Big stories — like deep dives into the antisemitism data, political scoops or reporting trips to college campuses — take months of research and fact-checking. All while we keep you informed of what you need to know each day.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Forward Publisher & CEO
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
