Pink has clarified her views on Israel and Palestine after facing criticism over a social media repost that appeared to support calls for Macklemore to be removed from Ed Sheeran’s tour following the rapper’s pro-Palestinian remarks.
The singer addressed the controversy in a lengthy Instagram post, saying the material she had previously reposted contained “words I didn’t write, and I wouldn’t have chosen all of them.” Pink said she decided to explain her position after seeing people online draw conclusions about her views from the repost.
“Of course I don’t speak for Israel, or for any government. I never have. What I said in October 2023 is still exactly what I believe: Hamas is a terrorist organization. Palestinians deserve a future that honors their humanity and their aspirations,” she wrote. Pink said she did not intend to “litigate a complex war in an Instagram caption” but continued to address the reaction she had received in the comments.
“Something has changed in this country, and I can read it in my own comments. ‘From the river to the sea.’ ‘Zionist,’ spat like it’s a slur, by people who couldn’t tell you the details of what I believe, because I hadn’t told them yet,” she wrote.
The singer said she did not believe most of those criticising her were motivated by hatred of Jewish people, but argued that assumptions were being made about her views. “I don’t think most of them hate Jews. I think somebody handed them a story where the Jew who won’t apologize for existing must be the villain, and they’ve been putting words in my mouth ever since,” Pink said.
She further explained that her concern was focused on the safety of Jewish people rather than support for the actions of the Israeli government. “You don’t have to agree with one thing Israel’s government does to not want the Jewish family two rows down from you to be scared or targeted at a concert. That’s the only thing I’m asking anybody for,” she wrote.
Pink concluded her remarks by expressing solidarity with people who were afraid amid heightened tensions. She also acknowledged the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks and discussed how she planned to mark the beginning of Rosh Hashanah. Her statement follows criticism over her earlier repost of material calling for Macklemore to be removed from Ed Sheeran’s tour over comments the rapper made in support of Palestinians.
Pink’s latest remarks clarify that she does not endorse every word contained in the material she reposted and that her stated position combines condemnation of Hamas, support for Palestinian aspirations and concern about hostility directed at Jewish people.