Singer and rapper Matisyahu blames anti-Semitism and “hate speech” for forcing the cancellation of two consecutive concerts after staff refused to come to work.
The 44-year-old, whose real name is Matthew Paul Miller, has combined reggae and rock with spiritual themes throughout a 20-year career, which includes a Top 40 hit with ‘King Without a Crown’ in 2005.
On Wednesday and Thursday, Matisyahu canceled concerts at Meow Wolf in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and at the Rialto Theater in Tucson, Arizona.
Multiple left-wing and anti-Israel groups in New Mexico took credit for canceling Wednesday’s show, and also credited the ‘Meow Wolf Workers Collective,’ which spoke out in favor of a ceasefire, for pulling out.
After the Rialto Theater issued a statement saying that “safety concerns” and “staffing shortages” were to blame for the cancellation of Thursday’s show, Matisyahu took to social media to blame anti-Semitism given his outspoken views in favor of Israel.
Singer and rapper Matisyahu blames anti-Semitism and “hate speech” for forcing the cancellation of two consecutive concerts after staff refused to come to work.
Multiple left-wing and anti-Israel groups in New Mexico took credit for canceling Wednesday’s show, and also credited the ‘Meow Wolf Workers Collective’, which spoke out in favor of a ceasefire, for abandoning the show.
Rialto CEO Cathy Rivers said the decision was based solely on safety concerns.
‘To my fans: My band and I should have played a sold-out show at the Meow Wolf in Santa Fe last night and we were excited about tonight’s show at the Rialto Theater in Tucson. Instead, staff at these locations refused to come to work, forcing cancellations,” he wrote.
The rapper added that he had offered to pay for the replacement staff himself, but was denied.
“They do this because they are anti-Semitic or they have confused their empathy for the Palestinian people with hatred towards someone like me who has empathy for both Israelis and Palestinians,” he added.
“It truly is a sad day when dialogue with those you disagree with is abandoned for inciting hate and silencing artistic expression.”
He announced a free show Thursday night elsewhere in the city that would raise money to bring home the Israeli hostages.
The coalition of left-wing anti-Israel activists wrote in a statement that Matisyahu is “an open supporter of the genocidal campaign against Palestinians in Gaza and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.”
They cite statements he has previously made on social media and in interviews, including posting a meme that says “your pronouns won’t stop jihadists from breaking into your house.”
Reference was also made to an interview with news weekwhere he stated: “I would like to see any terrorist, Hamas or person who believes that Israel has no right to exist or that Jews have no right to exist, I would like Israel to destroy those people.”
The 44-year-old, whose real name is Matthew Paul Miller, has combined reggae and rock with spiritual themes throughout a 20-year career, which includes a Top 40 hit with ‘King Without a Crown’ in 2005.
After the Rialto Theater issued a statement saying that “safety concerns” and “staffing shortages” were to blame for the cancellation of Thursday’s show, Matisyahu took to social media to blame anti-Semitism.
Matisyahu announced a free show Thursday night elsewhere in the city that would raise money to bring home the Israeli hostages.
Rialto CEO Cathy Rivers said the decision was based solely on safety concerns.
‘Let me be very clear about this situation. The decision not to have Matisyahu perform tonight was not made because of politics or religion. This decision was made based on safety. The temperature of the day changed and the tone was not set by us,” he said. the republic of arizona.
“We have welcomed Matisyahu to our theater many times, but today was not the day for him to perform,” he added. “He was paid in full and ticket refunds are available to all ticket holders.”
There has been swift backlash against activists and venues on both sides of the aisle on social media.
Arizona native Meghan McCain wrote on X: ‘The people of my beloved home state of Arizona should be ashamed of this disgrace. The good people of Tucson should be ashamed of this, and everyone should correct this to @matisyahu and all the Jews of Arizona.’
He also offered to help him book another show and assured him that the opinions of “ignorant, ugly, anti-Semitic people” did not represent Arizona.
Democratic Congressman Ritchie Torres also harshly criticized the protesters and the locations.
There has been swift backlash against activists and venues on both sides of the aisle on social media, including Arizona native Meghan McCain.
Democratic Congressman Ritchie Torres also harshly criticized the protesters and the places
On Wednesday and Thursday, Matisyahu canceled concerts at Meow Wolf in Santa Fe, New Mexico (pictured) and at the Rialto Theater in Tucson, Arizona.
‘Matisyahu, a Jewish musician, had his performance canceled simply because anti-Israel staff boycotted his appearance, which had nothing to do with Israel. “A textbook example of how anti-Zionism morphs into anti-Semitism,” he wrote.
‘Since when does acting while Jewish become a reason for cancellation in the United States? America’s anti-Israel cancel culture in action.
Matisyahu highlighted his statements on social media by saying that he and his band “will perform songs that celebrate unity, peace and perseverance, and we will connect with our fans through the sacredness of shared music, which has always united people.” people”.
‘Preventing fans of all ethnic and religious backgrounds from singing together in Santa Fe or Tucson does not bring peace. In fact, it does just the opposite,’ he said, adding an apology to the end of his statement.
As of Thursday night, his replacement show at Tucson’s The Rock was still scheduled to take place.