Days after missing a show in Lagos, Nigeria, Lauryn Hill has canceled her performance in Israel.
The embattled singer released a statement via her website, mslaurynhill.com, yesterday (May 4) explaining her decision to forgo her appearance.
“I’ve wanted very much to bring our live performance to this part of the world, but also to be a presence supporting justice and peace,” she wrote. “It is very important to me that my presence or message not be misconstrued, or a source of alienation to either my Israeli or my Palestinian fans. For this reason, we have decided to cancel the upcoming performance in Israel, and seek a different strategy to bring my music to ALL of my fans in the region.”
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Hill was scheduled to perform on May 7 near Tel Aviv, but faced backlash from organizations such as Jewish Voice for Peace who launched a campaign urging the former Fugees singernot to play in a country where Palestinians have lived as refugees or under military occupation for almost 50 years.
Read the full statement below:
Dear Friends and Fans in Israel,
When deciding to play the region, my intention was to perform in both Tel Aviv and Ramallah. Setting up a performance in the Palestinian Territory, at the same time as our show in Israel, proved to be a challenge. I’ve wanted very much to bring our live performance to this part of the world, but also to be a presence supporting justice and peace. It is very important to me that my presence or message not be misconstrued, or a source of alienation to either my Israeli or my Palestinian fans. For this reason, we have decided to cancel the upcoming performance in Israel, and seek a different strategy to bring my music to ALL of my fans in the region. May healing, equanimity, and the openness necessary for lasting resolution and reconciliation come to this region and its people.
Respectfully,
Ms. Lauryn Hill
Check out her acoustic apology to Lagos below:
