Jennifer Lopez accused of ignoring 'the suffering of Palestinians' by performing in Tel Aviv
Just days after celebrating her 50th birthday, Jennifer Lopez has more festivities in store: the international leg of her “It’s My Party” tour.
The singer will kick off her 6-city tour in Tel Aviv, Israel on Thursday before moving on to venues in Russia, Spain, Turkey and Egypt. But while Lopez got plenty of love — particularly from her Israeli fans, who posted their flag emojis — when she hyped up the Tel Aviv show, some have accused her of playing favorites in Middle Eastern politics.
“Everybody knows it’s occupied Palestine,” a commenter scolded Lopez. “Big chunk of the people in the comments should really learn history, this is embarrassing.”
That remark — which references Tel Aviv’s designation as part of the British-administered Mandatory Palestine until 1948, the same year Israel became independent following civil war between Jewish and Arab settlements — kicked off a fierce debate in the comments, with many Israelis taking offense.
“Sorry to tell you, but you are wrong,” fired back a fan. “It’s Israel, the best country in the world.”
“God bless Israel,” another angry commenter charged at the original poster. “Too bad you and your people choose terror.”
But others also voiced their objection.
”It is called Palestine,” read another comment.
“We love you J.Lo,” added a commenter. “But too bad you choose to visit this apartheid illegal state and ignore the suffering of Palestinians. I’m unfollowing you.”
“Do it for the Palestinian people, not the Israelis,” wrote another follower, while one fan asked Lopez if she was coming to the “occupied West Bank.”
According to the Jewish Journal, activists from the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement have urged Lopez to cancel the Tel Aviv show, sending the star a letter on July 5. In an interview with Israel’s Channel 12, her manager, Benny Medina, insisted that the show would go on.
“There was nothing that was gonna stop us from being in Israel,” he said. “It’s really simple: Tel Aviv and Israel deserve Jennifer Lopez, and Jennifer Lopez deserves Israel.”
“There was nothing that was going to stop us from being in Israel” - Benny Medina, Jennifer Lopez’s long time manager.
For months, the #antisemitic BDS movmement was harassing J Lo and her team about performing in Israel.
She refused to bow to the pressure! 👏🏻 @BDSreport pic.twitter.com/Yv0UWsMr4y— Stop_Antisemitism (@StopAntisemiti3) July 31, 2019
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