MinterEllison pulls logo from Biennale

Law firm MinterEllison requested its branding be removed from the ­Biennale of Sydney website, following the fallout from the opening night on March 13 when US performer DJ Haram called out “the Zio-Australian-Epstein empire” and chanted “Until Palestine is free, none of us is free”, “Long live the resistance” and “Glory to all our martyrs”.

The comments are being investigated by NSW Police for hate speech under the NSW Crimes Act at the request of the Jewish Board of Deputies. DJ Haram, whose real name is Zubeyda Muzeyyen, has since left Australia.

A MinterEllison spokesperson said, “We did not want our branding to suggest any association with, or endorsement of those views. We firmly and unconditionally condemn antisemitism in all its forms.”  MinterEllison said it would still provide pro bono legal advice to the Biennale.

It followed PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) terminating its association with the Biennale last week.  A PwC spokesperson stated, “Following comments made by a performer at the opening night event, we no longer have confidence that the festival can meet our expectations. We condemn the comments made and reject antisemitism and all forms of hate.”

In response to the controversy, the Biennale of Sydney released a statement, “During the set, DJ Haram made strongly worded proclamations and a soundscape which some people found confronting and distressing. This performance deviated significantly from the agreed brief, without prior notice, and was contrary to the artist agreement in place. The Biennale is firmly committed to the principle of artistic expression, and when artists are engaged by the Biennale and speaking from our public platforms, this must be done in a way that brings people together in an inclusive and welcoming manner.”