Singer Macy Gray Uses Facebook To Poll Fans On Whether Or Not To Boycott Israel

Pop singer Macy Gray recently scheduled a couple concerts in Israel. She soon received emails from fans telling her to boycott the nation to protest its treatment of Palestinians. Not wanting to alienate any group of fans more than necessary, Gray took the path of least resistance: she made a poll on Facebook to decided whether to do the shows or not.

While Gray may not have wanted to hurt the feelings of Israeli fans, she didn’t mince words in her feelings about the Israeli government. This is what she said in the Facebook post:

“I’m booked for 2 shows in TelAviv. I’m getting alot of letters from activists urging/begging me to boycott by NOT performing in protest of Apartheid against the Palestinians. What the Israeli government is doing to the Palestinians is disgusting, but I wana go. I gotta lotta fans there I dont want to cancel on and I dont know how my NOT going changes anything. What do you think? Stay or go?”

While some people will undoubtedly be wondering what difference some singer’s views on Israel are, celebrities can make huge impacts in bringing news stories to fans that may not otherwise know them. As such, they are frequently asked and frequently do make stands, using their fame for what they believe is good. However, while it’s easy to speak out about, say, the atrocities in Darfur, going up against Israel is much more difficult. Not only do you risk alienating fans in the country itself, but also huge swaths of Americans as well.

Gray eventually decided to go through with the concert (which is a good thing considering how upset fans were over one of her concerts being forced to end due to political disputes between Spider-Man and the Green Goblin). She announced her decision on Twitter, telling her Israeli fans that she “can’t wait” to see them. However, then she suddenly got a full brunt of attacks from pro-Palestine fans. At some point, she was so frustrated that she Tweeted that she was “willing to listen” to anyone but that some “Boycotters are just assholes.”

Even celebrities can’t find an easy way out in the Middle East.

(h/t The Blaze)

New: The Mediaite One-Sheet "Newsletter of Newsletters"
Your daily summary and analysis of what the many, many media newsletters are saying and reporting. Subscribe now!