Lorde off Apple Music in Israel after ‘free f–king Palestine’ at NYC show

Lorde’s Music Removed from Apple Music in Israel After Controversial Comments

Pop star Lorde’s songs have been removed from Apple Music in Israel following her statement of “free f–king Palestine” during a concert in New York City.

The incident occurred while Lorde was performing her hit song “Team” at Madison Square Garden, where she exclaimed the controversial statement.

After the performance, the stage lighting displayed the colors of the flag representing the Palestine Liberation Organization.

According to a report from Ynet, Apple Music users in Israel were unable to access Lorde’s music library as of Thursday, while her songs were still available on the platform in the US.

The removal of Lorde’s music has sparked questions about whether it was a decision made by Apple or another entity, and if it had the approval of the US-based corporate office.

Lorde, who is reportedly a signatory to the “No Music for Genocide” boycott, has joined other artists in pledging to geo-block their songs from streaming in Israel.

Despite the removal from Apple Music, Lorde’s music remains available to Spotify subscribers in Israel.

The singer was in New York for a sold-out show at MSG as part of her “Ultrasound World Tour” to promote her latest album, “Virgin.”

This is not the first time Lorde has been involved in the Israel-Palestine conflict, as she previously canceled a concert in Tel Aviv in 2017 under pressure from activists supporting the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement.

Supporters of Israel have criticized the BDS movement as antisemitic, while Apple has refrained from taking a stance on the conflict despite pressure from activists.

Apple has a significant presence in Israel due to its tech and startup ecosystem, and other tech companies have also faced protests over their ties to Israel’s military.

Microsoft and Google have both dealt with employee protests related to their commercial relationships with Israel, highlighting the complexities of doing business in the region.