Singer Pink has addressed the backlash she received after reposting a video that criticized rapper Macklemore's pro-Palestinian remarks during a recent concert.
Macklemore performed his song "Hind's Hall" and chanted "Free Palestine" during his opening set for Ed Sheeran at MetLife Stadium on Sept. 4. The performance, which featured images from the Gaza conflict, drew criticism from some attendees and groups like "Stop Antisemitism." Pink reposted a video from the latter, which led to her facing criticism for being perceived as pro-Israel.
In an Instagram statement on Sept. 11, Pink explained that while she reposted the critical video, she did not endorse all of its wording. "A repost isn't a statement," she wrote. "I’d rather be disagreed with for what I actually said than hated for what anybody else wrote, so let me say it."
Pink, who identified herself as Jewish, stated, "I was born a Jew. I didn’t pick it, and I’ve never hidden it." She clarified her position on the conflict, saying, "Hamas is a terrorist organization. Palestinians deserve a future that honors their humanity and their aspirations. Protecting innocent life comes first, everywhere, and nobody should ever celebrate the death of a child. Anybody’s child."
She recounted past incidents with Macklemore, including a 2014 Grammy performance of his song "Same Love" and a subsequent controversial costume that she described as antisemitic. "Every Jew I know knew exactly what it was," she said, referring to the costume. "The same love, it turned out, had a guest list, and we weren’t on it."
Pink stated that her repost was a reaction to Macklemore's actions at the stadium, not to the message "Free Palestine." She emphasized that she has never advocated for silencing artists and does not currently seek to have anyone fired or refunded. "What I need is to be able to say, as a Jewish mom, 'that scared me, and it scared people I love,' without being told our fear is just propaganda, and without being told I’m somehow cool with genocide because I noticed?"
She drew parallels to her own protest song "Dear Mr. President," written in 2006 regarding the Iraq War, to illustrate her history of speaking out on issues she believes in.
"I have stood up for other people’s people my whole career, and I know exactly what it costs," Pink stated. "And now I’m standing up for my own people, and I thought I knew going in how lonely that would be. And it’s lonelier than that. But I’m doing it anyway."
Pink observed a shift in public discourse, noting that terms like "Zionist" are sometimes used as slurs. She expressed concern that individuals are being told what to believe without being asked for their personal views.
"You don’t have to agree with one thing Israel’s government does to not want the Jewish family two rows down from you to be scared or targeted at a concert," she concluded. "That’s the only thing I’m asking anybody for. To the ones who are frightened this week, Jewish or Muslim or Palestinian or Israeli or just tired of all of it: I see you."
Macklemore, in a separate video, stated that he chose to tour with Sheeran to reach a larger audience with his "Free Palestine" message. "Wanting all humans to be treated equal should never be controversial," he wrote in his caption.