Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images Black Eyed Peas singer will.i.am (real name William James Adams Jr.) rebuffed those calling for the band to boycott Israel.
The Associated Press reported that the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) France website called the November 29 Black Eyed Peas concert in Jerusalem “scandalous” because it was scheduled on the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People and urged people to boycott the concert.
Speaking at a press conference, will.i.am said, “I’m a musician and a tech enthusiast and people like our music. Do I turn my back on people that live here because of politics? No, that’s not the way we were built. So, you know, there’s beautiful people here as well as beautiful people in Palestine. And one day we want to go there too.”
Will.i.am said that he always wanted to go to Israel because a lot of his friends in Los Angeles growing up were Israeli and his grandmother would talk about her experiences visiting Israel with her church; the singer said he cherished the memories he has with his grandmother when they visited Israel together. Will.i.am also lauded the “inspiration” and “talent” in Israel. “The developers here are mind blowing,” he said. “I’m inspired by the community here.”
No boycotts for the Black Eyed Peas: https://t.co/Z06ZFzm1DZ speaks out from #Israel about why rejecting BDS is important.
Music is a bridge to understanding and tolerance! pic.twitter.com/7IhfXkt6zn
— Creative Community for Peace (@CCFPeace) November 30, 2021
Incredible words from @iamwill of the @bep
Yesterday at a press conference, the American artist spoke out against division and calls to cancel the band's show in #Israel.
"Do I turn my back on people that live here because of politics? No, that’s not the way we were built." pic.twitter.com/s0IdcgTtT9
— Creative Community for Peace (@CCFPeace) November 30, 2021
The Black Eyed Peas went on with their scheduled performance that night.
Jewish groups praised will.i.am.
“Pressing artists to boycott Israel and its cultural offerings does nothing to advance peace and understanding,” the American Jewish Committee tweeted. “Thank you, [will.i.am] and [Black Eyed Peas], for pushing back against pressure from the bigoted BDS Movement and performing in Israel as planned.”
Pressing artists to boycott Israel and its cultural offerings does nothing to advance peace and understanding.
Thank you, @IAmWill and @BEP, for pushing back against pressure from the bigoted BDS Movement and performing in Israel as planned. https://t.co/qDLzhvpUbW
— American Jewish Committee (@AJCGlobal) November 30, 2021
B’nai Brith International also tweeted, “Black Eyed Peas’ @iamwill won’t give into the hateful, anti-Semitic #Israel boycott. The group performed in Jerusalem in spite of BDS’s bullying campaign. As he made clear, he refuses ‘to turn [his] back on people that live here.’ That’s how it should be.”
Black Eyed Peas' @iamwill won't give into the hateful, anti-Semitic #Israel boycott. The group performed in Jerusalem in spite of BDS's bullying campaign. As he made clear, he refuses "to turn [his] back on people that live here." That's how it should be. https://t.co/GU9VgisCIN
— B'nai B'rith Intl. (@BnaiBrith) November 30, 2021
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