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By Stewart Carr
12:29 February 5, 2024, updated 13:51 February 5, 2024
Annie Lennox has sparked backlash after she called for a “ceasefire” during her emotional Grammys performance.
The Eurythmics star, 69, appeared at the world’s biggest awards ceremony to pay tribute to the late Sinead O’Connor, performing Irish songbird’s biggest hit Nothing Compares 2 U.
But the singer caused a stir immediately afterwards by calling for a “ceasefire” amid the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The gesture was met with swift condemnation on social media, and the former UN special envoy against anti-Semitism Noa Tishby writes on Twitter/X: ‘Tonight the Grammys were hijacked in favor of Hamas’ agenda.
‘Singer Annie Lennox called for a ceasefire, denying Israel’s right to defend itself and also not calling for the release of the hostages. Basically, giving Hamas exactly what it wanted.
‘You know, I think the next time a singer wants to do something that’s good for humanity, he should probably call for the release of innocent women, a baby and a small child from the hands of a genocidal terrorist organization. I think it’s probably a good idea.
Anti-Semitism activist Aviva Klomas tweeted: ‘Annie Lennox called for a ceasefire and peace at the Grammys, winning over hordes of pro-Hamas supporters.
“Hamas itself was not available for comment because it was too busy torturing hostages and reading its Charter demanding the total elimination of Israel.”
The stunt comes after reports that Hamas could reject any ceasefire proposals, although the terrorist sect maintains it is still considering conditions set out in Paris last week.
Daily Star journalist Adam Cailler was also quick to criticize Lennox.
He wrote: ‘Annie Lennox explained exactly how she wants a ceasefire to happen? No? Oh well, let’s move on, ignoring the performative nonsense of idiots like Annie Lennox.
Jewiosh Chronicle columnist Heidi Bachram added: ‘Annie Lennox should have directly addressed her call for a Hamas ceasefire… Unfortunately, homophobic, misogynistic, racist and rapist terrorists get no mention from this feminist icon.
“Lennox wraps his message in generalities like ‘peace,’ but one look at his Instagram and he’s inundated with one-sided propaganda.”
But despite the condemnation, Lennox’s The demonstration comes amid similar statements supporting a ceasefire by other artists on the red carpet at the awards ceremony, which took place at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
Singer and musician Esperanza Spalding donned a keffiyeh at the event in a show of support for Palestine, according to Rolling Stone, while the group Boygenius, made up of Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker, wore pins announcing the petition in favor of the ceasefire. Call for a ceasefire now.
Artists call for a ceasefire now is the name of a petition sent to President Joe Biden last fall and signed by several actors and musicians.
The petition, which was sent to the president in October, just over two weeks after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on an Israeli music festival, sparked the ongoing conflict.
It said: ‘We ask that, as President of the United States, you and the US Congress call for an immediate reduction in tensions and a ceasefire in Gaza and Israel before another life is lost.
‘More than 5,000 people have been murdered in the last week and a half, a figure that anyone with a conscience knows is catastrophic. We believe that all life is sacred, regardless of faith or ethnicity, and we condemn the killing of Palestinian and Israeli civilians.’
Drake, Ben Affleck, Jennifer Lopez, Dua Lipa, Alyssa Milano, Joaquin Phoenix, Macklemore and Jessica Chastain were among the celebrities who signed the petition at the time.
The No More ‘I Love You’ artist’s statement came amid a day of demonstrations in Los Angeles, as protesters braved rainy conditions in an effort to block roads surrounding the venue in an effort to call the attention to its cause.
A tweet from the account Party for Socialism and Liberation read: ‘‼️RIGHT NOW: Hundreds of people in Los Angeles demonstrate and prepare to march in front of the Grammy Awards for Palestine… A little rain will not deter the movement!’
The post, which included a video of the ongoing protests, was accompanied by the hashtag #ShutItDown4Palestine.
Experts involved in organizing the event said Variety On Sunday, people affiliated with the protest tried to prevent “individuals from entering the site.”
The current conflict between Israel and Hamas has generated controversy in Hollywood, as differences of opinion have led to career ramifications for some artists.
In November, Scream VII producers fired Melissa Barrera from the upcoming film after she said Israel had engaged in “genocide and ethnic cleansing” amid the conflict.
Scream VII production company Spyglass Media Group publicly commented on Barrera’s firing, saying: “We have zero tolerance for anti-Semitism or hate speech in any form, including false references to genocide, ethnic cleansing, distortion of the Holocaust. or anything that flagrantly crosses the line of Hate Speech.’
O’Connor was not one to shy away from using her platform to speak her truth, as she made international headlines in October 1992 after she ripped up an image of the Pope while appearing on Saturday Night Live in a statement against sexual abuse in the Catholic Church.