Legendary rock artist Roger Waters has come under fire recently due to accusations of anti-semitism. At a show in Birmingham last Wednesday, the former Pink Floyd frontman made it clear that he was “pissed off” at the “anti-semitism bullshit” that had been directed towards him.
He vented to the 15,000 strong crowd, urging all those who were “uncomfortable” to “fuck off to the bar”. Continuing his tirade, he then declared: “They’re trying to cancel me like they cancelled Jeremy Corbyn and Julian Assange. I will not be cancelled!”
Waters has also been accused of making the remark “wanker” in relation to Christian Wakeford, the Labour MP who has pushed for venues to block Waters from performing. Furthermore, he has called out British outlets such as The Times and The Daily Mail for their misinformed accusations.
Recently, Waters had faced a legal battle with the city of Frankfurt for his planned concert there. The show was initially cancelled over claims of anti-semitism, but was eventually allowed to go ahead after a successful legal fight. This provoked backlash from Jewish groups and city politicians.
Waters has denied all accusations of anti-semitism and has repeatedly stated that his disdain is towards Israel, and not Judaism. He has also accused Israel of “abusing the term anti-semitism to intimidate people like me into silence”.
The controversy regarding Roger Waters does not seem to be calming down anytime soon. His upcoming shows in Glasgow, London, and Manchester are sure to be met with protest and resistance. It remains to be seen how Waters will react to the criticism and accusations, and how it will affect his career.
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