Ghali against Radio Italia: the singer has reignited the controversy over Palestine, accusing the organization of the concert of censorship. The artist has launched the accusation of having been ousted from the Radio Italia Live event in Naples on June 27th. The reason? Having asked for a minute of silence for all the victims in Palestine during the event in Piazza Duomo in Milan last May 15th. But the radio responded to the singer’s statementsgiving his version of events.
Censored by Radio Italia: Ghali’s words
Statements of a certain weight from Ghali, who is a guest on the “Real Talk” channel of the site Middle East Eye accused Radio Italia of censoring him, excluding him from the live event on 27 June in Naples, in Piazza del Plebiscito. The artist had asked a minute of silence for the victims in Palestine during the concert last May 15th in Piazza Duomo in Milan, and for this he would have suffered consequences.
“I was punished. The first day nothing happened, in the following days they informed me that essentially I would not be performing. I am disappointed, shocked and surprised by this move by the Italian music industry“. And she continued by saying: “They know how much this issue is close to my heart. And they know the communicative power I have, so I try to imagine what they can do with artists who have less power than me and what happens every day in the world with censorship. You can do things, but you can’t erase me. It’s crazy that if you want to send a message, a message of peace, you have to pay a price and the price you have to pay is your dreams“.
It is not the first time that Ghali has denounced being censored for his pro-Palestine positions: just think of his statements during the Sanremo Festival, when he spoke of genocide perpetrated by the Israelis against the Palestinians at the end of his performance.
The singer’s words had led the Rai CEO, Roberto Sergio, to intervene with a statement read live the following day by Mara Venier at Sunday Inin which he dissociated himself from Ghali, causing further controversy about it.
Radio Italia’s response to the singer’s accusations
After the singer’s interview, Radio Italia decided to respond, releasing a statement and clarifying its position.
“It was a misunderstanding, as can certainly be confirmed in the very first dialogues with the record company managers. The invitation for Ghali was initially scheduled for the event in Naples, later, at the insistence of the artist himself and its management, directly with our president, it was possible to include him in the cast of Radio Italia Live – Il Concerto a Milano, last May 15th. The invitation to Naples is therefore automatically lapsed and, in fact, Ghali’s name never appeared in the official cast list of Naples, released last May 28th.”
And then he wanted to underline: “Radio Italia also confirms that the stage of Radio Italia Live – Il Concerto has always guaranteed and will always guarantee maximum expressive freedom for guest artists”.
