Lana Del Rey has postponed her upcoming concert in Israel, just weeks after she defended her decision to perform the controversial gig.
The inaugural Meteor Festival is scheduled to kick off later this week is Tel Aviv, Israel, and announced a number of big names for its lineup, including Lana Del Rey.
This performance was set to be Del Rey’s first visit to the country, having cancelled her debut performance in Israel four years ago due to political upheaval in regards to Operation Protective Edge – otherwise known as the 2014 Israel–Gaza conflict.
Despite a great deal of criticism in regards to her choice to perform in the country, Lana Del Rey remained resolute in her decision, taking to Twitter to explain that she planned to perform with “a loving energy” and “a thematic emphasis on peace”.
“I understand many of u are upset that we’re going to Tel Aviv for the Meteor festival, I understand your concern I really get do,” Lana Del Rey began. “What I can tell you is I believe music is universal and should be used to bring us together.”
“Although I have deep sentiments over what is true or not true, right or wrong- I would like to remind you that performing in Tel Aviv is not a political statement or a commitment to the politics there just as singing here in California doesn’t mean my views are in alignment w my current governments opinions or sometimes inhuman actions.”
“For the record I’m doing the best I can and my intentions are better than most peoples that I know.”
https://twitter.com/LanaDelRey/status/1031269344179761152
https://twitter.com/LanaDelRey/status/1031269354703220736
Now, Lana Del Rey has changed her mind about the upcoming gig, admitting that she has decided to postpone so that she can also organise a performance for her Palestinian fans as well.
“It’s important to me to perform in both Palestine and Israel and treat all my fans equally,” Lana Del Rey began in a message posted on Twitter.
“Unfortunately it hasn’t been possible to line up both visits with such short notice and therefore I’m postponing my appearance at the Meteor Festival until a time when I can schedule visits for both my Israeli and Palestinian fans, as well as hopefully other countries in the region.”
https://twitter.com/LanaDelRey/status/1035574753002569734
This news of course comes just a matter of months after Lorde was the focus of a campaign to cancel her Tel Aviv performance, with the singer being labelled a “bigot” after her decision to eventually cancel the show.
“I pride myself on being an informed young citizen,” Lorde wrote in a statement at the time. “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.”
Check out Lana Del Rey’s ‘Summer Bummer’:
