«The reactions of the music industry are appalling towards artists who talk about Palestine. The risk is cancellation. You risk your dreams, but it doesn’t matter because there are people who risk their lives instead and a lot of people die.” These are Ghali’s words in an interview given to Middle East Eye, where he fears the shadow of censorship for his sentences in support of the population of Gaza and the ceasefire on the Strip. «I was punished for this. Because I had to do a show on June 27th in Naples and they canceled me.” The reference is to the Radio Italia stage, in Piazza del Plebiscito, Thursday 27 June at 8.40 pm. Together with the broadcaster, which has not yet commented on the artist’s words, the Municipality of Naples is co-organizer of the event, as part of the “Naples City of Music – Live Festival 2024” project. In the Milanese stage, on the same radio, the singer was there and on stage asked for a minute of silence for Gaza.
«This – says Ghali who already took a stand on the ongoing conflict on the Sanremo stage – happened two days ago. I was surprised, in a country where there is freedom of expression and democracy. The stage is for me a place to communicate, to send a message. Making music without sending messages is not my style.” The claims are making the rounds on social media, with fans’ anger mounting. “I’m speechless, I’m about to cry,” comments one user. And again: «Unfortunately, this is the high price that those who truly expose themselves pay in today’s society. However, this thing is of an unprecedented gravity, but fortunately he listens to him and supports his ideas, I sincerely appreciate the concert in Naples.”
The full interview is available here.
