Boy George and Maureen Lipman have voiced their outrage after Pink Floyd musician Roger Waters repeated his comparison of Israel to Nazi Germany and defended Russia in a recent interview.
Culture Club star Boy George told the JC: “I always thought Pink Floyd was part of [the] solution but Roger has fallen out of the dream. When you mix your own hostility with more hostility there is never any peace! Antisemitism is not rock ‘n’ roll!”
Dame Maureen Lipman called Mr Waters “a sad and addled old headbanger and his opinion is worthless”. Ms Lipman said: “He has form for persistent antisemitism as well as rabid anti-Zionism.
"His rant is obsessively centred on blaming Israel for being behind every war on the planet and denouncing Britain’s century-old colonialism whilst cosying up to Russian colonialists today.
“He is like Ken Loach and the BDS bigots somewhat reticent on China, Burma, Congo, Syria, Yemen… None of these conflicts are based on a democratic country being under constant threat of destruction from its neighbours.”
Pink Floyd star David Gilmour and his wife Polly Samson this week stepped up their long-running feud with former bandmate Mr Waters with a scathing attack on Twitter.
Ms Samson, an acclaimed novelist, tweeted at Mr Rogers: “You are antisemitic to your rotten core. Also a Putin apologist and a lying, thieving, hypocritical, tax-avoiding, lip-synching, misogynistic, sick-with-envy, megalomaniac. Enough of your nonsense.” Mr Gilmour then shared her tweet, adding: “Every word demonstrably true.”
The post by Ms Samson came in response to an interview with news website Pressenza in which Mr Waters, long known for his anti-Israel activism, expressed support for Russian President Vladimir Putin, said it was “really sad” his former bandmates had recorded a song in support of Ukraine and repeated his comparisons of Israel to Nazi Germany. “The Israelis are committing genocide,” Mr Waters claimed.
Mr Waters is no stranger to controversy, especially in his criticism of Israel and vocal support for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement. In 2013, the Anti-Defamation League alleged that Mr Waters held antisemitic views.
The Pink Floyd musician has in the past urged artists to boycott Israel and equated Jerusalem’s treatment of Palestinians to the treatment of people of colour in apartheid South Africa. At his concerts, Mr Walters previously used a pig-shaped balloon with Jewish symbols, including a Star of David.
