MUSIC – A more than tense exchange. Thom Yorke, the singer of Radioheadwas asked during the concert by a spectator about the situation in Gaza, which did not fail to make the artist react. The leader of the British rock group performed alone in Melbourne, Australia on Wednesday October 30. The altercation took place towards the end of the concert.
The pro-Palestine spectator began shouting comments about “Israel’s genocide in Gaza” for the purpose of Tom Yorkewho quickly identified him in the room of the Sidney Myer Music Bowl. According to videos filmed by other people in the audience, the viewer can be heard asking the singer “How many dead children will you need to condemn the genocide to Gaza ? “.
Thom Yorke was quick to respond head-on. “Come here and say it.” Get on the fucking stage and say what you want to say. Don’t stand there like a coward, come here and say it.”he said to the heckler. As the latter continued to shout, the musician ended up leaving after saying: “You want to ruin the party for everyone? Okay, do that. See you later.”
According to videos shared on social networks, and the testimony of a spectator at the BBCthe rest of the audience did not support the pro-Palestine viewer. Whistles were heard after Thom Yorke left the stage.
Radiohead refused to boycott Israel
After a few minutes, the singer returned to end his concert with an acoustic cover of Karma PoliceRadiohead’s hit. The words seemed written for the occasion: “Karma police, arrest this man. (…) This is what you get if you look for us.” According to the spectator who spoke to the BBC, the spectator in question was escorted out of the concert hall by security.
In the past, Thom Yorke has already criticized the pro-Palestinian BDS movement, “Boycott, divestment and sanctions”. In 2017, Palestinian artists called on the members of Radiohead to “be on the right side of history” by taking part in boycott of Israel by canceling their concert.
Thom Yorke defended the group’s choice to play in Tel Aviv. “Playing in a country is not the same as supporting a government”he wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “We have been playing in Israel for over 20 years, under a succession of governments, some more liberal than others. Like we did in the United States. We don’t support Netanyahu any more than we support Trump, but we still play America. Music, art and studies are about crossing boundaries not building them, about opening minds not closing them, about sharing humanity, dialogue and freedom of expression.”
Seven years later, and while more than 41,800 Palestinians have been killed (according to figures from the Gaza Ministry of Health, deemed reliable by the UN) by Israel’s response following the deadly Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, the leader of Radiohead still refuses to take a position.
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