February 19th 2024.
Roger Waters, the former bassist of Pink Floyd, recently expressed his disapproval of Bono's comments about the ongoing Israel and Hamas war. Bono, the lead singer of U2, made these comments during a performance at the Las Vegas Sphere, where the band was playing. The conflict in Gaza has been a hot topic since October, when Israel issued an order for Palestinians to evacuate a safe zone where 1.5 million refugees were living in tents.
Waters, who is now 80 and was recently dropped by his label, BMG, did not hold back in his criticism of Bono's statements. He called them "disgusting" and "degrading." During the U2 performance, Bono addressed the war and stated that it made singing about non-violence seem "ridiculous" and "laughable." However, he also expressed that their prayers were for peace and non-violence, while also acknowledging the anger and heartache caused by the conflict.
Bono's words were in reference to the first major attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, which tragically killed 364 civilians at the Supernova Sukkot Gathering music festival. He even changed the lyrics of the song "Pride" to reflect this event, singing, "Early morning, Oct. 7, the sun is rising in the desert sky… Stars of David, they took your life but they could not take your pride."
In an interview with the Qatari state-funded media organization Al Jazeera, Waters did not hold back in his criticism of Bono. He suggested that someone should "pick him up by his ankles and shake him" until he stops being an "enormous s**t." Waters also expressed his frustration with people like Bono who defend Israel, calling it a "Zionist entity." He even went as far as to say that Bono's performance at the Vegas Sphere, singing about the Stars of David, was one of the most disgusting things he has ever seen.
Waters has faced backlash in the past for his alleged anti-Semitic views, which he denies. However, he has worn a Nazi uniform on stage in Berlin, causing the police to investigate. Bono, on the other hand, has also faced criticism and backlash for his comments and actions. In fact, he was recently dropped by his label, a Germany-based company, after making controversial statements, including calling Russia's invasion of Ukraine "not unprovoked."
During a podcast with Glenn Greenwald, Waters claimed that he had been "fired" by BMG. He also discussed the attack on the music festival, saying that it was difficult to determine the truth behind what happened. He also mentioned a documentary film called The Dark Side of Roger Waters, which discusses his views on anti-Semitism and features interviews with former friends and colleagues who are Jewish. In the film, Norbert Statchel, a saxophonist who played in Waters' touring band, claimed that he was told to "keep quiet" about Waters' comments if he wanted to keep his job. Statchel, who lost many family members in the Holocaust, also described an uncomfortable moment with Waters where he impersonated a "Polish peasant" and made insulting comments about his dead grandmother.
The Agency has reached out to both Waters and Bono for comment on the situation. As this story continues to unfold, the entertainment team at The Agency would love to hear from anyone with information or insight into this controversy. If you have a celebrity story, video, or pictures, you can contact the team by email, calling 020 3615 2145, or visiting their Submit Stuff page. They are always looking to hear from their readers and share their stories.
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