r/radiohead • • May 06 '25

💬 Discussion Jonny Greenwood statement

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2.7k Upvotes

1.2k comments sorted by

600

u/serious_cheese May 06 '25

“Cancelling artists whom I politically disagree with is good. Cancelling artists I politically agree with is bad. I support art.”

  • this subreddit

75

u/hypostatics May 06 '25

yeah turns out there’s a difference between supporting good things and supporting bad things.

18

u/serious_cheese May 06 '25

What in his statement do you disagree with specifically?

-5

u/Comprehensive-Bus291 May 06 '25

Just don't play in a Genocidal Apartheid state. It's not that complicated.

26

u/Shell_fly May 06 '25

The shows were in London… LMAO

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u/DenverDude402 May 06 '25

As an American under an oppressive regime, your logic could apply to the US. Although you probably wouldn’t bat an eye for bands touring through here.

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u/[deleted] May 06 '25

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u/joe8628 May 06 '25

Technically that is happening in all social media, just each with their own flavor of beliefs and stereotypes.

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u/[deleted] May 06 '25

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u/serious_cheese May 06 '25

If his statement read “Up Hezbollah, Up Hamas”, you know, the people who mass murder and rape young people at music festivals, you’d probably be fine with it though, right?

282

u/KingSzmaragd May 06 '25

Fortunately, people writing in this comment section can only be seen on Internet.

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u/nyckidd May 06 '25 edited May 06 '25

Indeed. So many pop culture subs have become absolutely unusable because of consistent brigading and ironclad groupthink from people who in the past two years have made hating Israel a huge part of their personality. It's very unfortunate that this sub has gotten to the point where a perfectly reasonable and valid statement from a member of the band who is clearly just trying to bridge divides has such a hostile reaction from people who claim to be fans.

And the only reason people even want to cancel him is because one member of the band played for IDF troops? Madness.

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u/PetuniaOlive May 06 '25

Yup. Even condemning Hamas on this sub gets me massively downvoted. Absolutely wild the hatred some people here have towards Israelis/Jews

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u/Comprehensive-Bus291 May 06 '25

You’d have presumably made excuses for artists who played in apartheid South Africa, they were just “bridging divides”

The same tired arguments were made back then to dismiss boycotts and defend complicity. History was clear on which side they ended up on.

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u/moistreese May 06 '25

troops for a country committing mass genocide…

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u/Comprehensive-Bus291 May 06 '25

Yes especially the guy calling people protesting a genocide 'terrorists'

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u/melancious May 06 '25

This sub can be truly cancerous sometimes.

2

u/Comprehensive-Bus291 May 06 '25

Genocide is a cancer. Opposing it isn't

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u/movie_review_alt May 06 '25

What, the way enough of us don't care about genocide? Or the way some of us disgustingly let our appreciation of Radiohead get in the way of our morals?

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u/Theodore_Buckland_ May 06 '25

Jonny greenwood say Palestine challenge: impossible

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u/Burkean91 May 06 '25

He literally said Gaza. This is not a silly bingo game. 

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u/RanchBourgeois May 06 '25

Not sure if you’re being obtuse, but the point is that Israel/many Israelis do not recognize Palestine as a sovereign country.

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u/Emuoo1 May 06 '25

Gaza ≠ Palestine

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u/No_Effort5896 May 06 '25

For the vast majority of social media “free Palestine” people, it is absolutely a silly game.

1.4k

u/am0985 May 06 '25

Was against the BDS stuff aimed at Radiohead in 2017 (and various protests at gigs since) and I do sympathise with some of what Jonny is saying here.

However I think having someone on the bill who has happily played for IDF troops in the current climate is another matter entirely. Jonny's family is Israeli so this cuts personally for him, I'm sure he's genuine in wanting to use music to break down barriers and I don't want to put too much on him.

But on this occasion I'm not opposed to the boycott either. Just a horrible situation all round.

323

u/XxWolfCrusherxX May 06 '25

Yeah, this is one of those really complex situations where you can see the valid points of both sides and sympathize with all of them.

Understanding why the boycott is happening, yet also understanding why the band would be upset about the boycott.

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u/buddhahat May 06 '25

boycotting is fine. threatening violence is unacceptable regardless of your stance, views or connection to either side of the issue.

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u/Dodlemcno May 06 '25

Yeah- a condemnation of the vast scale of death caused by Israel’s response to October 7th would have done much better than banging on about artist’s expression. He admits it’s more important, why can’t he address it?

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u/hornwalker May 06 '25

It sounds like the venue received security threats though. That’s different than a boycott.

Boycotting is totally acceptable, making threats isn’t-violence is never ok even if it’s just threatened. It’s a clear line. If you support that you should reassess your priorities.

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u/[deleted] May 06 '25

You say boycott, but the statement talks about threats.

Why is there such a gap in attribution?

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u/toaster_kettle May 06 '25

Whatever you think of the situation, the statement doesn't directly address the concerns raised by the campaign against these performances.

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u/[deleted] May 06 '25
  1. make threats of violence

  2. why don't you speak for our cause?

sorry, but you're making this very difficult

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u/aurisor May 06 '25

You make reasonable points, but Jonny’s wife and Dudu are both Israeli. This is not idle chatter for him. Regardless of the morality of the war, he has family and friends exposed to it, and he’s got a right to not say things that would antagonize them.

And furthermore, this isn’t a boycott or a protest — it’s a heckler’s veto, implemented through threats of violence.

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u/met_art May 06 '25

I stopped reading after “We believe art exists above and beyond politics”

That’s absolute BS. It’s interconnected like everything else in this world. People make political statements with their art, art is a form of expression. People have absolute fucking right to protest a singer who performed for IDF and the platform that promotes him. Performing for IDF is a political statement and he is on your fucking card.

563

u/Krunksicle May 06 '25

“We believe art exists above and beyond politics”

Jonny In case you haven't noticed you are a member of RADIOHEAD.

145

u/BornUnderPunches May 06 '25

Which made a pretty political record with Hail to the Thief

42

u/Round_Historian_1948 May 06 '25

Because of Radiohead , 2+2=5 is more than just a famous line from a book, it's also a catchy tune I hum sometimes.

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u/AdmiralAckbarrghh May 06 '25

Maybe Jonny should go read the lyrics to like spinning plates lol.

Art, like literally everything, is inherently tied to politics. People that say it isn’t are either lying or deluding themselves so that they can avoid their relationship to it.

9

u/TheOmegaKid May 06 '25

I mean music can be entirely non-political. But this is not that haha.

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u/HesiPullup May 06 '25

Not all art is tied to politics. I'm not lying and I'm not deluding myself.

Not all art is tied to politics. Not all art is tied to politics. Not all art is tied to politics.

0

u/[deleted] May 06 '25

Hail to the Lumpen?

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u/[deleted] May 06 '25

-7

u/senator_corleone3 May 06 '25

Lol but how do you really feel?

-7

u/Neppoko1990 May 06 '25 edited May 06 '25

I still take them seriously because I'm an actual fan.

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u/Echo_Origami May 06 '25

Maybe you should stop to think that they're tired of all that B.S. and they don't want to have a say in it anymore.

And YOU'RE HOLDING IT AGAINST THEM.

how about you look at it from that perspective.

Reminds of when Noel Gallagher was bitching about Thom in some interview where he was talking how about "Someone is probably writing about the news right now. Thom Yorke?"

Everyone in the audience laughs. And then he goes on to tell the interviewer that he only writes happy songs.

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u/Ikr2649 May 06 '25 edited May 06 '25

I know the organizers who successfully boycotted against them flat out said jonny/radiohead have to make a clear stance against the genocide. basically call out Israel's ethnic cleansing but I knew from the first paragraph, this was not going that way. and to include Kneecap who have directly been for Gaza, it's a whatever statement

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u/SuspiciousCustomer May 06 '25

There is no way to win a leftist purity test though ..

10

u/Cynical-Alien-Hehe May 06 '25

Art exists above and beyond politics but what is also true is that politics can and is involved in art. You can have art without politics but not all art is apolitical.

2

u/lunarsymphony May 06 '25

they were already enmeshed in the politics of it all whether they like it or not. too late to be above and beyond.

2

u/Cynical-Alien-Hehe May 06 '25

I think they were more saying, though, that people still have the right to be involved in the art if they choose regardless of the actions and political decisions of their countrymen or their government. And enmashed is a great word.

62

u/plastic_pyramid May 06 '25

All political art is political, not all art its political art

40

u/Pthumeru May 06 '25

The existence of apolitical art is actually very political. You need a very specific set of political circumstances to be able to make "apolitical" art.

4

u/theSWW May 06 '25

the very notion of not commenting on ideology is conformist, AKA conservative.

any piece of art that doesn't challenge the dominant ideology inherently supports it, whether the artist intends or not.

3

u/Pthumeru May 06 '25

I totally agree, Boaideiro

3

u/paxxx17 May 06 '25

What kind of circumstances do you need to be in to make instrumental music? Or is instrumental music mostly political? If so, how?

19

u/Pthumeru May 06 '25

I don't know why you focused on instrumental music, maybe you're trying to say that you need lyrics to express some message, but not like that's the only thing that makes something "political."

What I meant was, the context and the author can make something inherently political. Like, if you're a member of a marginalized group it's very likely that your art will be considered political just because of who you are. A love song isn't something you'd consider political, for example, but a gay person making a love song is a political act, even if the content doesn't explicitly say anything political.

For instrumental music, the first thing that comes to mind are war marches and national anthems (those that don't have lyrics). They're political because of the context they're made and used in.

To make apolitical art, it obviously needs to bot have a political message (if that's possible, even), but you also need to be in a position where you making art isn't political in and of itself, and I would say that being in that position is, again, kinda political. That's why "apolitical art" is sort of a paradox.

36

u/Burkean91 May 06 '25

Jonny has always struck me as apolitical, unlike Thom and Ed. 

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u/[deleted] May 06 '25 edited May 06 '25

listen to Hail To the Thief

23

u/EternalHipster May 06 '25

Johnny was initially quite opposed to that album title.

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u/Burkean91 May 06 '25

You know Thom makes the lyrics, right?

Either way, being political on the Iraq war in 2003 doesn't mean that all your art ever since is inherently political. 

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u/YourCrosswordPuzzle May 06 '25

Jonny has always struck me as insanely political

10

u/Burkean91 May 06 '25

How so? 

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u/[deleted] May 06 '25

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u/[deleted] May 06 '25

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u/[deleted] May 06 '25

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u/[deleted] May 06 '25

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u/[deleted] May 06 '25

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u/senator_corleone3 May 06 '25

No, they didn’t. That is an incorrect description of their career.

-8

u/bcoss May 06 '25

Did they ever once give a political campaign speech or was the advocacy and societal musing all through music? why do you expect a campaign speech now? he already told you the music is the point.

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u/Jzahck May 06 '25

Did they ever once give a political campaign speech or was the advocacy and societal musing all through music?

Many of the band members did go to political events and speak at them, especially in the 00s.

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u/Mezzo_Spix May 06 '25

I think he fully missed the point of why the performance was considered problematic to begin with. Noone cares about any artists ethnicity or political views here. He was going to support and play with someone who actively contributes a government that is bringing genocide to innocent people. This isn't about "left or right wing" stuff, its about awareness, something that Jonny lacks here totally. I would agree with what hes saying if what he said had anything to do with this situation. It really doesnt. This isnt more important than Gaza, this is worsening it.

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u/QuigleyPondOver May 06 '25

 This isnt more important than Gaza, this is worsening it.

This implies the concert is going to somehow be meaningfully agonizing to Gazans or assisting the Israelis in a meaningful way more than the aid shortages, bombs and urban fighting will.

Which is a nutty proclamation.

1

u/randle_mcmurphy_ May 06 '25

Don’t allow yourself to be convinced censorship, threats, and fascism are warranted to “bring awareness.”

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u/Sea_Chain798 May 06 '25

Preach 🙏🏻 lol

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u/AwesomeAsian May 06 '25 edited May 06 '25

Johnny’s statements always end up sounding like a whole a lot of nothing. While it is nice that he performs with a diverse set of people, his statement of having middle eastern singers sounds similar to “I have black friends I can’t be racist”. He doesn’t even put forth any of his opinions about Israel/Gaza which feels cowardly. It’s the same thing again when he “accidentally” liked a transphobic post and just said “fat thumb”.

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u/Theodore_Buckland_ May 06 '25

Dudes trying to kumbaya his way out of this lmao

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u/matheusluiz May 06 '25

And it is working, seeing as people here have gone the lengths of asking “ok, but what are the crimes that the IDF unit Tassa specifically played to have committed?”

Seriously. If this shit were happening to freaking Imagine Dragons, people would have already been throwing them under the bus without second thought. Just because this is an indie darling people have been grasping at straws to justify just about anything. If I was married for 20 years to a white power skinhead but said to anyone “hey, I don’t exactly agree with her ideals but underneath all of that hate she’s super nice” nobody would fucking believe me. Johnnys getting a free pass because he made a whole lot of classics

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u/bluecalx2 May 06 '25

I was rereading this statement and thinking about the situation. I love Johnny's music and (current situation aside) I love that he's doing this interesting project. I don't personally think the shows should be cancelled. But this is what really struck me:

The record we are touring features singers from Syria, Lebanon, Kuwait and Iraq

No Palestinians. Now obviously they don't have to include Palestinian singers or songs. But if he's talking about respecting people and cultures, he made no mention at all of the stateless victims of the ongoing conflict. Why does this matter? Because the hard right in Israel believes that those other countries are for Arabs but that the occupied territories are not. So there's a very dark interpretation of Johnny's statement here. By championing other Arab cultures, some Israelis could view themselves as being progressive and tolerate, while also celebrating the ethnic cleansing of the Occupied Palestinian Territories. They can tell themselves "Of course I respect Arabs, but they should be on their own land" thereby denying the history and identities of Palestinians. They're boiled down to just Arabs.

I'm not suggesting that Johnny actually believes that. But he has written a statement that allows people to believe that interpretation. My suspicision/hope has always been that Johnny is against the occupation but finds it difficult to say so publicly, given his family ties to Israel. Maybe this project is his way of trying to increase tolerance for Arabs in Israel while basically avoiding any controversy. Unfortunately, he's leaving his actual opinions on the conflict very vague, which is uncomfortable for the fans who want to support Johnny but not at the expense of Palestinians.

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u/AwesomeAsian May 06 '25

Your response makes a great point as to why his statement is so terrible. It just leaves it open to many different interpretations with how vague it is. He keeps talking about artistic freedom and expression, but what expressions is he talking about? Because to me it feels like he's not saying anything of his own opinion or vision, but he makes it seem like he has one.

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u/andstayoutt May 06 '25

He only hear music, not the other noise.

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u/Pure_Salamander2681 May 06 '25

He said it’s not nearly as important to what’s happening to the people in Gaza. It’s fine to criticize someone but at least be honest about it.

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u/AwesomeAsian May 06 '25

I mean that still sounds like a whole a lot of nothing. Imagine if Radiohead during the Iraq war was like "we find the Iraq war important" and then didn't offer any context as to why they think it's important or who they support? Do they support Bush or the civilians?

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u/QuigleyPondOver May 06 '25

Are we really going with the idea that pointing out he is working with Arabic musicians closely means he hates Gazans? Do you think they have no choice to work with him?

Are people really working themselves up on the idea that Dudu playing for the IDF (no word on what he sung or did) makes him a meaningful antagonist? 

In that respect, there isn’t really anything he can do to make his cancellers feel like stopping if it can all be twisted. I guess he is easier to affect than a conflict half a world away.

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u/LifeClassic2286 May 06 '25

Yep. Totally disappointed and disgusted with him AND Thom too for that matter - on this issue alone (well, and the transphobic tweet you mentioned).

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u/urenshi May 06 '25

what did he tweet that was transphobic?

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u/Reechurd May 06 '25

Free Palestine.

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u/[deleted] May 06 '25

🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸

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u/OurManInJapan May 06 '25

By threatening violence at a music gig?

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u/JustAMonsterTruck May 06 '25

The only message worth sending into the world besides “the only good nazi is a dead one.”

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u/Alex_13249 May 06 '25

From Hamas

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u/melancious May 06 '25

The fact that you're being downvoted says everything that needs to be said. Shameful.

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u/duskywindows May 06 '25

we (this sub) can't, bruv

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u/peacekenneth May 06 '25

I guess I’m an outlier here, but protesting and THREATENING VIOLENCE are entirely different things and have 0 place in modern society. When we threaten violence, it leaves us open to the constant threat of violence.

I’ve been protesting Israel for close to 2 decades now but I’ve done so peacefully. I’ve lost friends there, but I’ve protested peacefully. I think to flip now would be a disgusting betrayal of their memories. Encourage others to behave right. We’re never going to stop this shit if violence is always our knee jerk reaction.

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u/Comprehensive-Bus291 May 06 '25

Where is the evidence of this threatening violence?

They said 'intimidating venues....' Sorry but I think that's likely playing the victim card. What does that even mean? Likely, it was simply organisations saying they were going to protest this gig. Do you think people shouldn't be allowed to do that?

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u/[deleted] May 06 '25

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u/[deleted] May 06 '25

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u/peacekenneth May 06 '25

And yet every single violent act has led to more violence, and is the result of what the climate is today.

Trust me, protesting Israel HAS NOT been as popular in the past as it is today. In fact, I’ve suffered multiple times for protesting Israel, refusing to work with Israeli businesses, etc. over the past 2 decades.

IMO if things continue as they are, Israel will not be able to get away with this stuff much longer. The political atmosphere that supported Israel’s genocide is faltering.

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u/[deleted] May 06 '25

I appreciate that they took the time to try and write a thoughtful statement about this, but I honestly find it deeply frustrating. Jonny positions them as victims of censorship, caught between the left and the right, just trying to make inclusive art that bridges cultures in the Middle East. But they completely sidestep the reason their shows are being protested in the first place: Israel’s ongoing war crimes, apartheid, and the genocide unfolding in Gaza.

They call for freedom of expression, but don’t use theirs to callout the power imbalance at play in this ‘conflict’. The silence speaks louder than words. In moments like this, claiming neutrality isn’t apolitical, it is political. It protects the oppressor. Art might exist ‘above politics’ in theory, but in practice, silence in the face of oppression is complicity.

Free Palestine.

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u/aurisor May 06 '25

It’s not “freedom of expression” if people are not free to disagree with you. In fact, you demand that they speak your views on the matter

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u/adammash1 May 06 '25

You can disagree by not buying tickets. Canceling the show is inherently saying people must agree with your views.

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u/TimbersFan8 May 06 '25

Any statement by Jonny “calling out the power imbalance” would do just as much to bring peace to the Middle East as this protest has. You say their shows are being protested for Israel’s war crimes, but how is that directly connected to the show itself? Freedom of expression includes the freedom to not comment.

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u/senator_corleone3 May 06 '25

Protests =! Threats toward the venue. The threats and the cancellation is the topic, not your soapbox issue. There is no need here for the statement you want.

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u/Burkean91 May 06 '25

Everyone who were silent about US/Saudis killing 200 000 people in Yemen are also complicit then.

Time to boycott 99,99 % of artists. 

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u/iscreamuscreamweall May 06 '25

That feels like a bit of a reach to me because you’re implying that Jonny’s band is somehow responsible for doing war in Gaza

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u/[deleted] May 06 '25

I definitely wouldn’t want to imply that. I’m not saying they’re responsible, but I am saying that they have a platform, and they choose to use it to defend themselves rather than stand in solidarity with people being slaughtered. It saddens me to see them remain so silent about this issue, even while writing a direct statement like this.

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u/Significant-Bed375 May 06 '25

I can understand to some extent being upset about Johnny Greenwood playing a show in Israel, I don't totally understand the situation, it seems very messy on both sides, but threatening a venue putting on their show England is beyond the pale to me.

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u/qui-bong-trim May 06 '25

maybe they just don't want to alienate fans for something a foreign government is doing. Anyone could say the same thing about any crisis in any country. Also, anyone writing all these words but not doing something meaningful like donating is a performative dope.

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u/ConcertAcceptable710 May 06 '25

How about this: if you don't agree with Jonny, or Kneecap, or any other musician who has made a statement that so enrages you - you simply don't go to their gig?

Can't quite believe this needs spelling out to people.

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u/italox May 06 '25

but the strangers and bots on the internet HAVE to read their position on the issues!

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u/theyfoundDNAinme May 06 '25

How about this. They can do that AND share their opinions in a subreddit on the internet!

If you don't agree... simply don't comment and keep scrolling.

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u/ConcertAcceptable710 May 06 '25

Your comment isn't really clear. Do you think artists with opinions you don't like should have their gigs cancelled and those opposed to that should not be free to voice their disapproval about it on the internet?

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u/anotherawakening May 06 '25

People should have been able to make up their own minds whether they wanted to buy a ticket or not

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u/GothamCityCop May 06 '25

The violence happening in the Middle East is abhorrent but blanket cancellations and boycotts don't always raise the awareness we think they do or should sadly.

They worked to raise awareness of the horror of apartheid in South Africa but campaigners weren't rushing to stop bands playing in America or the UK when Iraq and Afghanistan were being invaded.

Yet again, it's artists and people who get drawn into this so that the gaze and close inspection of POLITICIANS and TERRORISTS who send people to war, who kill, maim and bomb people is focused elsewhere.

You'll find that no-one ever committed mass killings with a fucking guitar or violin, yet musicians who just want to play and make a living somehow have to constantly justify themselves politically as if they're the ones who are answerable to us.

POLITICIANS SERVE THE PEOPLE. HOLD THEM TO FUCKING ACCOUNT. AIM YOUR RAGE IN THE CORRECT DIRECTION.

I support the people of Gaza.

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u/LacrimaNymphae May 06 '25 edited May 06 '25

the statement makes it seem like people threatened to target the concert though. who? what exactly did they say? does anyone have any links or are they just using this

people attending the show might not have any idea about any of this even though they'd have to be pretty oblivious and never watch the news. i know what's going on is horrible but i mean is it a good thing to make things even worse by making threats

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u/GothamCityCop May 06 '25

They may have been told by Police that there's a credible threat but without detail.

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u/[deleted] May 06 '25

You mean; the people of Palestine*

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u/GothamCityCop May 06 '25

FFS yes. I was typing fast as I was annoyed.

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u/LandosMustache May 06 '25 edited May 06 '25

It’s wild to me how many people in this comment section are so busy moralizing on the Israel/Palestine war, and completely ignoring the fact that terrorist threats just shut down music venues in London and Bristol.

Like, yeah sure enjoy your meme-level understanding of geopolitics. But terrorist threats in London & Bristol were deemed credible enough to shut down these shows.

This wasn’t activism in support of a cause. This was terrorism. In London. And it succeeded.

Wild.

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u/Polkawillneverdie17 May 06 '25

Shhhhh. We're not supposed to mention the terrorism!

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u/Ok_Tap_5565 May 06 '25

estan todos en pedo

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u/AffectionateTiger436 May 06 '25

I need proof of these so called terrorist threats.

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u/Sure_Assumption_7308 May 06 '25

You’re being downvoted but I agree. I’ve seen a lot of controversy about these shows and some people being rude and stuff but for the most part it is mostly just people using their right to protest.

I’m not saying that I didn’t see any terrorism threats so there isn’t any I’m just saying I need more proof than just the shows got cancelled because of terrorism. I’ve seen a lot of people define people peacefully protesting the genocide in Palestine as terrorism so im a tad sceptical on the severity of these “threats”. I do wonder if they are purposely mis using the word terrorism to make themselves seem more like victims

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u/Comprehensive-Bus291 May 06 '25

Sorry, but what on earth are you talking about. Terrorist threats? Give me a break.

You are literally just making things up, screaming 'terrorism', straight out the Israeli state's racist playbook.

I can assure you that if there was a 'terrorist threat' the police would be involved. Can you show me the police statement where they are actively looking into this terrorist threat?

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u/Thin-Support2580 May 06 '25

I got some good land in florida to sell you if you think those threats were real or credible.

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u/ScottBroChill69 May 06 '25

All you people in the comments need to realize this is just a band and musicians. They have provided a lot of politically commentary in the past, but their main business is music. Forcing every person who makes a name for themselves to have to provide political statements or face the wrath of cancel culture is fucking ridiculous. Go bother politicians. Are you mad they used to make strong statements in their 20's and 30's, but now don't? Who the fuck cares. What average person even listens to radiohead, the only songs they play on the radio are from the early 90s. Yall will just cannibalize every good thing just for the sake of virtue signaling until everything is as bland and virtuous as npr and open mic slam poetry. Not that there's anything wrong with either, but you get my point.

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u/Meltwater99 May 06 '25

I completely agree. I just want to hear good music. This should be an opportunity to escape from the pressure of being forced to take sides. Not everything needs to be poisoned by politics.

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u/refur May 06 '25

ABSOLUTELY agreed. You nailed it. Unfortunately I’m sure you’ll have a number of people upset and yelling and downvoting you, but I completely agree. And really, if people are SO upset by “Jonny said this/Jonny didn’t say anything” or “Thom should this…” etc then just stop fucking listening. But the truth is most of them are just virtue signaling to stroke their own ego and shit talk others.

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u/italox May 06 '25

definitely, but I suppose people want the guy who made that great song they love to be ideologically pure.

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u/Global_Earth1299 May 06 '25

Fucking thank you. I’m so god damn sick of the overabundance of politics on Reddit that people wanna throw a fit 24/7.

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u/average_waffle May 06 '25

They have made explicitly political music and have gained a politically aware fanbase as a result. If Radiohead didn't want people to criticize their politics then they shouldn't have made an album named "hail to the thief." Nobody cares about Taylor Swift's thoughts on this issue, and that's because she doesn't make political music and no one expects her too.

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u/dragonflyzmaximize May 06 '25 edited May 06 '25

To add to this, "Who the fuck cares." Really? They played for a military that's massacring an entire population, currently, which most human rights groups are calling a genocide. Israel hasn't let any aid in in over 2 months, effectively using starvation as a war tactic. Who the fuck cares? A lot of us fucking care about artists catering to war criminals, actually. If you don't care, that's on fucking you.

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u/AffectionateTiger436 May 06 '25

Political change happens when a sufficient portion of the population agrees on an initiative and works towards a goal. Jonny is on the opposite side of a humanitarian crisis. This is inexcusable. Why don't you put human dignity before your idol worship and justification for complacency?

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u/ScottBroChill69 May 06 '25

And what have you done to actually make a change to society instead of preaching to the choir on reddit? You could work hard, make a name for yourself, and help out on your own instead of demanding other people who have worked harder to do if for you.

And where am I idol worshipping? I'm doing the opposite. Don't idolize famous people. Their famous because they are skilled at something that has nothing to do with politics or governing. They're good at making melodies and putting on shows.

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u/[deleted] May 06 '25

That's a wonderfully crafted statement and nails the point without being overly preachy. I hope to hear the songs played here in the United States without threats or intimidation. It's music! And Arabic music is truly beautiful if you've ever delved into it.

In that spirit, listen to some Fairuz live, or play Rahim Alhaj's "When the Soul is Settled: Music of Iraq" all the way through sometime. There is nothing political or inherently right or wrong with it, it's just beautiful instrumental music composed of instruments that you may not be accustomed to. Rahim was nominated for a Grammy for the album in 2008, and I promise if you give it a shot you will find incredibly rich music full of skilled craftsmanship and positivity .

Here is an Amazon link, but it can be found on all streaming services. Again - it is just music. Beautiful music too.

https://www.amazon.com/When-Soul-Settled-Music-Iraq/dp/B000FILN7G

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u/Shell_fly May 06 '25

Jonny’s right. Canceling the shows does nothing to help anyone in the Middle East and musicians and other artists are the last people we should be directing our ire at regarding the Israeli governments excessive violence.

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u/theapplekid May 06 '25

You and Jonny are definitely missing that this is an incredibly high-profile show of opposition to the UK and the world.

The sanctions against apartheid South Africa didn't start with governments, they started with organic boycotts organized by people who were unwilling to overlook apartheid, and as they gained momentum, politicians took notice of where their voter bases were heading.

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u/cenalan May 06 '25

Violent threats are not equivalent to a boycott

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u/AffectionateTiger436 May 06 '25

Not according to BDS. You know better than the largest pro Palestinian organization? What's your solution? Boycotting is the easiest thing one can do to protest atrocities ...

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u/Shell_fly May 06 '25

But what about according to BDSM?

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u/RottenRobyn May 06 '25

Jonny’s close friend and collaborator Dudu Tassa played for IDF soldiers fighting in Gaza at the request of wanted war criminal Yoav Gallant. People’s reaction to Jonny’s work with him is directing ire at the Israeli government’s excessive violence.

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u/93-and-me May 06 '25

If I was an artist I wouldn’t perform anywhere. Nowhere is perfect enough

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u/Wouldtick May 06 '25

Especially if they have mosquitoes.

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u/CombOverDownThere May 06 '25

I just want to know what Ja Rule thinks about this. Where’s Ja?!

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u/infinestyle May 06 '25

Planning the next Fyre Festival

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u/Wouldtick May 06 '25

What’s Ja, got to do, got to do with it?

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u/Cattus-Magnus May 06 '25

So, not enough people to boycott so they threaten violence?

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u/Comprehensive-Bus291 May 06 '25

I think it's more a case of, too cowardly to condemn a genocide that they play the victim card?

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u/ice12916 May 06 '25

Jesus, y’all must be absolutely loathsome to be around.

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u/Echo_Origami May 06 '25

Yes, anyone on this sub, or anyone that writes, "Free Palestine", I instantly put them on ignore, or I loathe them.

It's not that I don't agree with them. It's just that is fucking annoying and they dilute and take away the importance of the plight.

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u/EnvironmentIcy4116 May 06 '25

He’s saying something coherent and fair so of course this sub is going to disagree with him

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u/Neppoko1990 May 06 '25

Yeah if the posters on here would return to simple self-loathing rather than directing hatred at Johnny then we can get back to business

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u/BeanWeenREAL May 06 '25

Not adressing Dudu's affiliations is intentionally dodging the issue, you have to recognize that.

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u/corwood May 06 '25

as always, the amount of people absolutely unable to read a statement and comprehend it is really infuriating

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u/AffectionateTiger436 May 06 '25

Who isn't comprehending it? What's your analysis?

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u/Local_Bid_4987 May 06 '25

These comments are funny

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u/thatpj May 06 '25

it is ironic that the folks supposedly fighting for free speech want to cancel someone because they dont agree with what they didnt say

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u/burtmofomacklin May 06 '25

Wait youre telling me Radiohead refuses to stop bombing Gaza? Assholes

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u/VonBlorch May 06 '25

I’m outraged that these talented musicians have yet to solve an ethnic war that has its roots in centuries old conflicts. If they can’t do this, is it even worth listening to their music??

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u/ICantBelieveItsNotEC May 06 '25 edited May 06 '25

Jonny's point about Kneecap is a good one. These people are more than happy to support a group that literally told their audience to murder their MP at concerts simply because they are saying the right things about Palestine.

If Jonny said "up Hamas, up Hezbollah" and "the only good tory is a dead tory, kill your local MP" (both direct Kneecap quotes), would he be more deserving of a platform than he currently is?

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u/IBeBallinOutaControl May 06 '25 edited May 06 '25

Im a left winger but this is a frustrating thing where we establish a rule (no censorship of kneecap) but then turn around a break it with the justification that dudu is pro-imperial but kneecap is anti-imperial. It makes it look like any stance is just a ploy.

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