Hollywood stars have rallied behind Lorde, after the singer was labelled a ‘bigot’ by critics for cancelling her concert in Israel.
The Kiwi songstress has garnered the support of more than 100 fellow singers, film directors and other artists – who signed an open letter published in The Guardian on Saturday.
Actors John Cusack and Mark Ruffalo are among dozens of high-profile artists, who signed the letter which condemns ‘bullying tactics’ being used against Lorde.
Stars unite! Hollywood stars have rallied behind Lorde, after the singer was labelled a ‘bigot’ by critics for cancelling her concert in Israel
It states: ‘We write in support of Lorde, who made public her decision not to perform in Israel and has now been branded a bigot in a full page advertisement in the Washington Post.’
‘We deplore the bullying tactics being used to defend injustice against Palestinians and to suppress an artist’s freedom of conscience. We support Lorde’s right to take a stand.’
It comes after a full-page advertisement taken out in the Washington Post called the Grammy award-winning singer a bigot.
Showcasing their support: Actors John Cusack (L) and Mark Ruffalo (R) are among dozens of high-profile artists, who signed the letter which condemns ‘bullying tactics’ being used against Lorde
The ad, on the fifth page of the paper’s December 31 edition, taken out by Rabbi Shmuley Boteach’s This World: The Values Network – criticises the 21-year-old for joining ‘a global anti-semitic boycott of Israel.’
The ad features a large photo of the singer superimposed over a picture of men running through rubble cradling babies with the headline ‘Lorde and New Zealand ignore Syria to attack Israel.’
The Grammy winner cancelled a Tel Aviv concert, originally scheduled for June, following criticism from activists in the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement.
A full-page ad in the Washington Post, taken out by Rabbi Shmuley Boteach’s This World: The Values Network, calls Lorde a bigot and accuses New Zealand of prejudice against Israel
The decision also came after two of her New Zealand-based fans wrote an open letter that argued holding a concert in the country would show support for Israel’s occupation of Palestine.
The Washington Post ad states that Lorde’s decision showed how a ‘growing prejudice against the Jewish State’ in New Zealand was ‘trickling down to its youth.’
It cites New Zealand’s choice in December to vote – along with 127 countries – in favour of a United Nations resolution that called for the United States to withdraw its decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
Controversy: It also criticises New Zealand’s co-sponsorship of a UN resolution which condemned continued Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory and caused a six-month diplomatic rift with Israel
It also criticises New Zealand’s co-sponsorship of a UN resolution which condemned continued Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory and caused a six-month diplomatic rift with Israel.
‘While Lorde claims to be concerned with human rights, she hypocritically chose to proceed with her two concerts in Putin’s Russia, despite his support for [Syrian president Bashar Al-Assad’s genocidal regime,’ the ad reads.
‘Let’s boycott the boycotters and tell Lorde and her fellow bigots that Jew-hatred has no place in the twenty-first century.’
The singer has also received criticism from the Jewish Council of New Zealand and the The Zionist Federation of New Zealand.
Israel’s ambassador to New Zealand, Itzhak Gerberg, last week invited Lorde to meet him in person.
The Grammy winner cancelled a Tel Aviv concert, originally scheduled for June, following criticism from activists in the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement