British singer Robbie Williams has announced that the scheduled concert in Istanbul has been canceled for security reasons. The decision was made by the city authorities of the Turkish capital in the interest of public safety.
The performance was set to take place on October 7, the second anniversary of the Hamas attack on southern Israeli communities. Just days before the concert, pro-Palestinian organizations in Turkey intensified their activity on social media, demanding the event be canceled and accusing Williams of Zionism.
The 51-year-old singer has faced criticism in Turkey before, particularly due to his Jewish heritage and a performance in Israel in 2015 that sparked protests among pro-Gaza groups.
Bubilet, the company handling ticket sales, stated that the concert was canceled at the request of the Istanbul governor's administration, while local authorities have yet to comment on the decision.
Cancellation of Anna Netrebko's performance in Romania
It is also worth noting that Anna Netrebko, the Russian opera singer, had her performance in Romania canceled due to her support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine. On October 6 in Cluj-Napoca, her concert was scheduled with the Transylvanian Philharmonic Orchestra, and she was to be awarded the title of Honorary Doctor by the George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology.
Popular artists Robbie Williams and Anna Netrebko are facing cancellations of their performances due to political circumstances, highlighting the importance of considering geopolitical and social factors in the arts and entertainment industry.