Lana Del Rey dismisses appeal by Roger Waters to boycott Israel

Singer says performing and also visiting ‘Palestine’ ‘is my action’

By AMY SPIRO
Updated: SEPTEMBER 3, 2018 11:04
Lana Del Rey (L) and Roger Waters (R) (photo credit: REUTERS)
Lana Del Rey (L) and Roger Waters (R)
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Singer Lana Del Rey has a pretty clear message for Roger Waters: I’m going to play in Israel.
Right on schedule, the former Pink Floyd frontman and anti-Israel activist took to social media on Tuesday in an attempt to convince Del Rey to cancel her upcoming show in Israel.
In his typical patronizing manner, Waters wrote on Facebook that he wanted to “help clear a couple of things up.”
“I implore you, and any other act considering crossing the picket line, to perform at the Meteor Festival to consider long and hard,” he wrote. “I have no doubt the Israeli promoters are paying top dollar, they are well known for that, but is the price worth passing up your moment on the road to Damascus and abandoning your Palestinian brothers and sisters to their fate in their hour of need?”
But Del Rey was unmoved by his statement, and – two days after first using social media to defend her appearance in Israel – released another statement.
“We will still be playing our show in Israel,” she wrote on Instagram late Tuesday night. But, she added, she wants people to know that, “I will be visiting Palestine too and I look forward to meeting both Palestinian and Israeli children and playing music for everyone. I want peace for both Israel and Palestine.”
Then the American singer/songwriter addressed Waters: “I read your statement about taking action even when you believe in neutrality, I totally understand what you’re saying and this is my action.”
Though Del Rey appears determined to play at the three-day Meteor festival early next month on Kibbutz Lahavot Habashan, at least one other act has reportedly canceled.
According to South African media reports, musical group Black Motion, who were originally part of the festival’s extensive lineup, has canceled its appearance.
The BDS South Africa group announced Tuesday that it had successfully convinced Black Motion to pull out of the festival.
“The human rights and Palestine solidarity organization BDS South Africa welcomes the news that the popular and award-winning South African music duo, Black Motion, are not performing in Israel,” it said in a statement. “We did reach out to the management of Black Motion, who graciously met with us, were open to the information we provided... We thank them for both their willingness to engage and their decision to not perform in Israel.”
As of Wednesday afternoon, Black Motion was still listed on the Meteor Festival website. Festival organizers told The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday that they had not heard directly from the group about a cancellation. A representative of Black Motion did not respond to a request for comment.
In addition to Del Rey, rapper Pusha T, DJ Flying Lotus, jazz saxophonist Kamasi Washington, DJ Nina Kraviz and rapper A$AP Ferg are all slated to appear, among dozens of other artists.
A representative of the production company, Naranjah, told the Post on Wednesday that no other artists had indicated any intention to cancel their appearance at the Meteor Festival.


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