‘Imagine being threatened by peace’: Singer Pink lambasted for criticising Macklemore’s pro-Palestine stance

American singer, Pink, born Alecia Beth Moore-Hart, found herself in hot water after she issuing a statement late on Friday, addressing the backlash she received for criticising rapper Macklemore’s calls for peace and a "Free Palestine" at the end of a performance earlier this month.

Hundreds called on her to understand the scale of her platform and the damaging impact that a call for the end of the career of a pro-Palestine artist can have.

Days earlier, Pink had reposted on Instagram a call for Macklemore to be dropped from the Ed Sheeran tour, after he explained the difference between Zionism and Judaism, and called for greater understanding and an end to the occupation of Palestine.

"To all of my Jewish brothers and sisters: criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide in no way is a criticism of you. My message is for peace; love for all human beings to be treated with dignity, respect, and equality," Macklemore said.

However, Pink proceeded to double-down on the statement she re-posted and shared various memes making light of the situation.

“Being liked by everyone is a clown’s job,” one meme read. “What do you mean? Probably what I Fu***** said,” another meme said.

However, the singer on Friday put out a much longer statement, in which she appeared to backpedal on the initial post she shared on Instagram, writing that she likely would have chosen different wording had she penned the post herself.

“A repost isn’t a statement, and a meme isn’t a spine. Social media makes all of us cheap and fast, and we all know it. But I’d rather be disagreed with for what I actually said than hated for what anybody else wrote, so let me say it,” she wrote.

“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. Protecting innocent life comes first, everywhere, and nobody should ever celebrate the death of a child,” she continued.

She went on to say that she had taken issue with Macklemore’s call for peace and a free Palestine.

“…He stood in front of a stadium full of music-loving families, with violent images from a war on the screens, dedicated a song to the movement of his choice, and then took the mic to tell all of the Jews in the stadium that it wasn't about them…You don't get to decide that for us,” she said.

“What I need is to be able to say, as a Jewish mom, "that scared me, and it scared people I love," without being told our fear is just propaganda, and without being told I'm somehow cool with genocide because I noticed,” she added.

The singer’s statements drew fresh criticism, with scores of people asking her to explain why a call for peace made her afraid, and asking her to differentiate between anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism.

“Dude, all Macklemore said was it wasn't an attack to the Jewish people. He literally curled the shunning away from Jewish people. You just found a way to make it all about you,” one person commented on her statement.

“Damage control... that’s all I felt while reading this—belated—statement,” another said.

“Imagine feeling threatened by peace. Wow that’s a thing…” another added, while dozens of others said they stand with Macklemore.