Spanish singer Rosalia faces backlash over 'weak' Gaza response after designer severs ties

Fans have slammed Spanish pop singer Rosalía over a "weak" response to criticism by a fashion designer over her silence on Israel's war on Gaza.

The controversy was sparked when Miguel Adrover, a well-known Mallorcan fashion designer, shared an email exchange showing Rosalía’s team had approached him to design a bespoke outfit for an upcoming event in September or October.

On Wednesday, Adrover revealed he had refused to work with the pop star due to her "complicit silence" on Palestine.

"I'm sorry, but Miguel doesn’t work with any artist who doesn’t publicly support Palestine," read the email response from his team.

Adrover later posted a personal message addressed to the Catalan musician on Instagram, writing: "Silence is complicity, especially when you have a platform where millions listen to you. That’s why you have the responsibility to use this power to denounce this genocide. Rosalía, this is nothing personal. I admire your talent and what you’ve accomplished."

But Rosalía’s response, issued a day later via Instagram Stories, did little to diffuse the backlash.

In her statement, the singer said: "It is terrible seeing how day after day, innocent people are murdered and those who should stop it are not doing so. The fact of not having previously used my platform aligned with the expectations of others does not mean that I do not condemn what is going on in Palestine.

"I do not see how shaming ourselves is the best way to keep the fight moving forward for Palestine’s freedom," she wrote, adding that criticism should be "directed upward, not horizontally".

"This message will inevitably be incomplete and imperfect, but it is my truth, and it is written with the best intentions. I want to end by expressing deep respect and gratitude to those who are truly acting - NGOs, activists, volunteers, healthcare workers, cooperatives, associations, and journalists dedicating their lives to this and other causes," she added.

But the response sparked widespread criticism among fans, who accused her of issuing a vague, non-committal statement only after facing public pressure.

One user said on Instagram: "Such a weak message just to let us know you absolutely don’t care. I hope now you actually use your platform to promote something that matters."

Another added: "You are failing. You have a global platform to denounce the Palestinian genocide, and you’re saying nothing."

A third pinned: "If you are neutral in situations of injustice, it means you have chosen the side of the oppressor."

Some also compared her post with that of artists who have been outspoken in their condemnation of Israeli actions in Gaza, including Bella Hadid, Zayn Malik, Pedro Pascal, Susan Sarandon, and Mark Ruffalo.

Spain formally recognised the State of Palestine in 2024 and has taken a strong diplomatic position on the war.

In June, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez became the most prominent European leader to describe the situation in Gaza as a genocide.