British singer Zayn Malik responded on Sunday to critics of his stance on Palestine by posting a screenshot of his 2014 “#FreePalestine” tweet on Instagram.
“This is for any confused individuals.. check the date,” he wrote.
Malik posted the original tweet in July 2014, during Israel’s onslaught on Gaza. He was then a member of One Direction and had 13 million followers.
Some people characterised Malik as unwilling to take a clear position on Palestine, and the criticism followed comparisons to comments Ed Sheeran made during the fallout over Macklemore’s Loop Tour appearances in September.
The row began this month after Ed Sheeran’s promoter, Messina Touring Group, removed rapper Macklemore from the remaining United States (US) dates of Sheeran’s Loop Tour.
Macklemore had shouted “Free Palestine” and performed his protest song “Hind’s Hall” during two shows at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Messina said that venues on the upcoming dates would not allow concerts with Macklemore on the lineup.
Sheeran said that the promoter made the decision, not him. Opening acts Finneas, Lukas Graham and Aaron Rowe, along with Sheeran’s backing band Beoga, left the tour in protest.
Sheeran addressed the controversy at his September 19 concert in Philadelphia. He described the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks as horrific and called the situation in Gaza “catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate.”
