Hozier and the OVO Area Wembley have apologized and responded to a fan’s grievance about an incident in December through which she was reportedly instructed to take away a “Free Palestine” scarf earlier than attending one of many singer’s reveals. “Thanks to OVO Area Wembley for clearing up this misunderstanding,” Hozier wrote early Monday morning (Feb. 26) after the venue posted an apology final week to attendee Hiba Ahmad, who mentioned in an earlier X publish that she was “pulled apart and escorted to wardrobe” in December whereas attending a present on the venue whereas sporting the headband.
“The group and I’ve zero coverage of prohibiting indicators of any type and I’m sorry to Hiba and her associates that they skilled this on the London present,” Hozier added.
The venue additionally apologized to Ahmad on Feb. 22, writing, “This was an remoted incident the place venue coverage wasn’t adopted as meant. The choice to cease the visitor was not following artist needs. We’ve apologised to these concerned and are making a donation to the UNICEF Kids in Gaza attraction.”
On Dec. 15, Ahmad posted on X about her expertise seeing Hozier on the venue, writing, “So inform me why I bought pulled apart and ESCORTED to wardrobe w/ a physique cam for sporting a Palestine solidarity scarf at @Hozier’s live performance? Not even a kiffiyeh, only a Free Palestine scarf that I *actually* put on all over the place as a present of solidarity AND BECAUSE IT IS F–KING COLD!”
She added, “They then proceeded to inform me they’re taking my scarf for my very own safety as I would get ‘hate crimed’ for sporting it. One of many safety employees doing this instructed me they’re Arab, and instructed me he didn’t like doing it, whereas doing it calling for extra safety on me. LOVELY.” On the time, Ahmad famous that on her method in she noticed different folks coming into with “all kinds of political slogans — particularly one memorable tote bag about animal cruelty and testing. However hey, animals > Palestinians proper?”
Ahmad claimed that an unnamed individual from the venue “insisted” it was Hozier’s group that “demanded” the headband be eliminated, reportedly involved that she would “launch” the headband on the stage; one other tweet from Ahmad appeared to indicate that her seats had been fairly removed from the stage.
After Ahmad once more claimed in a separate tweet on Dec. 15 that Hozier was accountable for the incident, the singer responded the next day, writing, “thanks for bringing this to our consideration. We’re trying into this with the venue however I can state categorically that no request got here from me about this, and my tour gave no directive about refusing entry of sure objects of clothes or certainly flags.”
Ahmad (born Andrew John Hozier-Byrne) thanked the singer after his Dec. 16 publish, writing, “Thank you so much Andrew, I actually recognize you reaching out straight, reveals the individual and artist you’re. Solidarity!”
The unique incident on the enviornment got here two months after Hamas militants stormed Israel and killed greater than 1,200 principally civilian Israelis and took greater than 240 hostages, igniting a now five-month outdated response from Israel’s navy that has reportedly killed practically 30,000 Palestinians in accordance with the Gaza Well being Ministry.
Take a look at the Hozier publish beneath.
