‘Antisemitic to your rotten core’
Pink Floyd founder has urged artists to boycott Israel and has equated Jerusalem's treatment of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza to the treatment of people of colour in apartheid South Africa.
Pink Floyd star David Gilmour and his wife Polly Samson last Tuesday stepped up a long-running feud with former bandmate Roger Waters, with a scathing attack on Twitter.
Samson, an acclaimed novelist, tweeted at 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.”
Gilmour then shared her tweet, adding, “Every word demonstrably true.”
The post apparently was in response to an interview in which 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 reiterated his comparisons of Israel to Nazi Germany.
Sadly @rogerwaters 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.
— pollysamson (@PollySamson) February 6, 2023
“The Israelis are committing genocide,” claimed Waters.
He released a statement after Samson’s tweet, saying he is “aware of the incendiary and wildly inaccurate comments” posted by Samson and is looking at taking legal action.
Gilmour and Waters have feuded for decades, including prior to the latter’s departure from Pink Floyd in the 1980s.
Over the past year, Waters has defended Russia over its invasion of Ukraine last February, leading to the cancellation of concerts planned for Poland, which has been a leading backer of Kyiv.
Waters is no stranger to controversy, particularly for his blistering criticism of Israel and support for the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement.
In 2013, the Anti-Defamation League concluded that Waters held antisemitic views.
The Pink Floyd founder has urged artists to boycott Israel and has equated Jerusalem’s treatment of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza to the treatment of people of colour in apartheid South Africa. At his concerts, Waters in the past used a pig-shaped balloon with Jewish symbols, including a Star of David.
Times of Israel
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