Roger Waters recently commenced his UK tour in Birmingham and addressed the ongoing criticism of “antis*mitism” surrounding him. During his performance at the Utilita Arena, he made a statement to the audience:
“They are attempting to cancel me, just like they did with Jeremy Corbyn and Julian Assange. I refuse to be silenced. If you’re one of those individuals who claim to love Pink Floyd but disagree with my politics, you might as well go to the bar.”
The musician faced backlash after displaying stage props in Berlin that resembled symbols associated with the Third Reich. German authorities initiated an investigation, accusing him of disrespecting Holocaust victims. In response, Roger took to Twitter to clarify:
“The recent performance in Berlin has become a target for bad-faith attacks from those who aim to tarnish my reputation due to their disagreement with my political beliefs and ethical values. The elements of my performance that have been called into question were deliberately chosen to oppose fascism, injustice, and bigotry in all its forms.”
This isn’t the first time Roger has confronted controversies in Germany. Previously, Frankfurt’s city council attempted to cancel his concert, accusing him of antis*mitism after he criticized the Israeli government’s treatment of Palestinians. Following a legal battle that ruled in Waters’ favor, he expressed his triumph on Instagram:
“The Frankfurt court has determined that Roger Waters’ show will proceed, dismissing allegations of antis*mitism. The court recognizes that his use of costumes parodying the German Third Reich serves as an acceptable artistic license to warn us all about the perilous resurgence of f*scism in the Western world.”
— Roger Waters ✊ (@rogerwaters) May 26, 2023