Palestine Showbiz Latest News and Updates

After a Manchester venue cancelled a Palestinian event last week, the fallout has spilled into the gallery’s other exhibitions.

Scowl have announced that they have pulled out of Welcome To Rockville Festival next month, due to the US Army’s sponsorship of the event.The Californian hardcore band confirmed the news on their social media accounts yesterday (April 2).“We will not be performing at this year’s Welcome To Rockville Festival in Daytona Beach, FL due to the US Army’s Sponsorship of the event,” the band wrote in a post on X.The hard rock and metal festival, which is taking place in Daytona Beach, Florida from May 9-12 this year, has its full list of commercial partners listed here, including the US Army.We will not be performing at this year'sWelcome To Rockville Festival in Daytona Beach, FL due to the US Army’s Sponsorship of the event.— SCOWL (@Scowl40831) April 2, 2024NME has contacted Welcome To Rockville for a response to Scowl’s decision.This year’s edition of the festival is set to be headlined by Foo Fighters, Slipknot, Motley Crue and Limp Bizkit. Joining them on the bill are acts including Judas Priest, Greta Van Fleet, Queens of the Stone Age, Sum 41, Disturbed, Primus and Anthrax.Scowl were one of the first bands to similarly withdraw from SXSW last month for the same sponsorship connection with the US Army.At the time, the band wrote: “Scowl is no longer performing at any of our previously scheduled ‘official’ SXSW showcases.“We came to this decision in protest of the US Army’s sponsorship of SXSW.

Tributes have been paid to one of the British aid workers killed in the Israeli air strike in Gaza. James Kirby was among seven World Central Kitchen (WCK) aid workers killed in strikes by the Israel Defense Forces on Monday.

Ellise Shafer “The Zone of Interest” director Jonathan Glazer has donated signed posters to the Cinema for Gaza auction, which has collected gifts from major names in the U.K. entertainment industry to raise money for Medical Aid for Palestinians. Before the fundraiser officially began on Tuesday, Glazer and “Zone of Interest” producer James Wilson donated seven “Zone of Interest” posters and a selection of posters from his 2014 film “Under the Skin.” The posters will be signed by Glazer, Wilson and composer Mica Levi, who scored both films.

Dr Mona El-Farra has lost everything. Her family home, her precious childhood memories and many of her friends and colleagues.

Scooter Braun is launching a new campaign to support both Palestinians in Gaza who have been affected by the war, as well as families of Israeli hostages.

Humza Yousaf has warned it is "increasingly difficult" to shield his children from racism after he was targeted with Islamophobic graffiti near his Dundee home.

Michaela Zee Celebrity chef and humanitarian José Andrés has announced that several members of his World Central Kitchen nonprofit organization were killed in Gaza on Monday. “I am heartbroken and grieving for their families and friends and our whole WCK family,” Andrés wrote on X/Twitter. “There are people…angels…I served alongside in Ukraine, Gaza, Turkey, Morocco, Bahamas, Indonesia.

Less than a week ago, the UK’s popular art venue the Home Theatre in Manchester was sharing on social media that it would be “celebrating Palestinian voices” at an event called Voices of Resilience in April.

delivered an impassioned opening monologue as host of “Saturday Night Live.”“This is an incredibly spiritual weekend,” the “Ramy” creator began on a light note. “We’re in the holy month of Ramadan. Tomorrow is Easter.

Ramy Youssef called for an end in the conflict between Israel and Palestine during his opening monologue on the March 30 episode of Saturday Night Live.

Ethan Shanfeld In his “Saturday Night Live” monologue, Ramy Youssef called for a free Palestine and for the release of the hostages taken in the Israel-Hamas War. At the top of his monologue, Youssef joked, “This is an incredibly spiritual weekend. We’re in the holy month of Ramadan.

Ramy Youssef hosted Saturday Night Live and made a call to free the people of Palestine as well as the hostages.

This year’s UK Eurovision entry has rejected calls for him to boycott this year’s Song Contest in protest at Israel being included in the competition.

Olly Alexander is responding to calls for him to boycott the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest, but he says he will not be withdrawing from the competition.

It looks like we might be getting more Gale Weathers!

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent On Oct. 7, when the Israel-Hamas war broke out, Palestinian director Annemarie Jacir was just one week away from starting principal photography in Bethlehem, 45 miles from Gaza, on “All Before You.”The Oscar-nominated filmmaker’s long-gestating project reconstructs the 1936 farmer-led revolt against British colonial rule and the influx of Jewish settlements in Palestine that has been at the root of the conflict.

Olly Alexander has confirmed that he will not boycott this year’s Eurovision, despite Israel’s inclusion, saying “it wouldn’t bring us any closer to our shared goal”.The UK’s entry in this year’s competition has faced calls to withdraw in solidarity with Palestine, but it appears that will not be happening.In a personal statement posted on his social media accounts, he said: “I wholeheartedly support action being taken to demand an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, the return of all hostages and the safety and security of all civilians in Palestine and Israel.“I know some people will choose to boycott this year’s Eurovision and I understand and respect their decision.”Queers for Palestine sent me their letter asking me to withdraw from the ESC earlier this week and I responded to them directly, I’m sharing my response here alongside this mornings collective artist statement

Olly Alexander and a number of other performers have released a joint statement about their participation in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest after calls to boycott the competition in solidarity with Palestine.Yesterday (March 28) hundreds of queer artists, individuals and organisations called on Alexander to pull out of the competition this year, after its refusal to expel Israel.Now, Alexander, alongside Ireland’s Bambie Thug, Norway’s Gåte, Portugal’s Iolanda, San Marino’s Megara, Switzerland’s Nemo, Denmark’s SABA, Lithuania’s Silvester Belt and Finland’s Windows95Man, have signed a letter outlining their response.“We want to begin by acknowledging the privilege of taking part in Eurovision,” it begins.pic.twitter.com/VBNQWwPe46— olly alexander (@alexander_olly) March 29, 2024“In light of the current situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and particularly in Gaza, and in Israel, we do not feel comfortable being silent. It is important to us to stand in solidarity with the oppressed and communicate our heartfelt wish for peace, an immediate and lasting ceasefire, and the safe return of all hostages.

Joe Biden was joined by his predecessors Barack Obama and Bill Clinton today for a taping of the Smartless podcast, a prelude to a large-scale showbiz filled fundraiser this evening at Radio City Music Hall.

Melissa Barrera is speaking out.

screaming into the void. Melissa Barrera was fired from the rebooted “Scream” franchise months ago, but the fallout is still difficult to process of her. “It’s definitely hard, because I was just in such a cloudy state of mind, but I was very fortunate,” Barrera, 33, told The Hollywood Reporter through tears in an interview published on Thursday.

Olly Alexander, the UK’s Eurovision contestant, to boycott the song contest in solidarity with Palestine.The push was put forward to the singer, actor and Years & Years vocalist via an open letter, which was published by Queers For Palestine.In the letter – which can be read in full here – the signatories urge the musician to boycott the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest due to the inclusion of Israel. “By refusing to expel Israel from the competition, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) is providing cultural cover and endorsement for the catastrophic violence that Israel has unleashed on Palestinians,” it reads.“At a time when accountability is so urgently needed, Israel’s inclusion in Eurovision would enable and cover up its war crimes and crimes against humanity,” it continues.

Alex Ritman A number of major names from the U.K. film and TV world and beyond have donated items — and their own time — to an auction raising money for Gaza.

Sharareh Drury Filmmakers Farah Nabulsi and Darin J. Sallam recently came together to discuss how ongoing violence in Gaza has impacted the Palestinian creative community, the hardships they’ve endured telling their stories, concerns over Hollywood censorship and hopes that film can “preserve” Palestinian history for the Muslim Girl Code podcast‘s debut episode “Will Storytelling Save Palestine?” In a conversation with MuslimGirl.com founder Amani Al-Khatahtbeh for the podcast’s first Ramadan episode, Nabulsi and Sallam shared how their identities as Palestinian women have influenced the stories they spotlight, and whether identity or gender has been a barrier for them in the film industry.

For most of her career, Amirtha Kidambi didn’t refer to herself as an activist, in the same way she didn’t consider herself a Carnatic singer despite studying the form for years. Both of these practices, she explained in a 2017 interview, are lifelong callings.

Kneecap have shared new single ‘Fine Art’, as well as talking to NME about recent controversies and what to expect from their debut album.The Belfast rap trio have been making headlines recently after leading the Irish bands boycotting SXSW, in solidarity with Palestine and protest against the showcase festival’s sponsorship from the US military and weapons manufacturers. They’re currently in the midst of a North American tour, after making waves with their debut US TV performance with Jimmy Fallon.Now, ahead of the summer’s release of their self-titled movie starring Michael Fassbender, and long-awaited Toddla T-produced debut album ‘Fine Art’, the band have shared the record’s title track.

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it,” said Steven Spielberg today. “I am increasingly alarmed that we may be condemned to repeat history–to once again have to fight for the very right to be Jewish,” the Schindler’s List director added at an event Monday celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Spielberg founded Shoah Foundation.

NewDad have shared a stripped-down cover version of The Smashing Pumpkins’ ‘1979’ – check out the video below. The Irish band posted the footage on their Instagram account, with the caption: “1979 cover live from Texas”. The four-piece travelled to the state to play South By Southwest Festival in Austin earlier this month, but they were one of the bands that withdrew from the festival – in the end, every Irish artist on the bill refused to play.