Pulp have confirmed they will still play this year’s Adelaide Festival in Australia after previously privately pulling out of the event in protest at the event’s treatment of Palestinian writer Randa Abdel-Fattah.
The band issued a statement on social media confirming that they would “honour our invitation to perform in Adelaide on 27 February” after festival organisers performed a U-turn of their own and apologised to Abdel-Fattah for their treatment of her, and cancellation of her appearance at the event. They have now invited her to speak at next year’s event.
It was revealed earlier this month that Abdel-Fattah had been barred from the Adelaide writers’ week, which is part of Adelaide Festival, because of “cultural sensitivity” following the Bondi terror attack. This was a move which prompted dozens of other speakers to boycott the event, and triggered a more widespread boycott campaign.
Pulp said they had decided to join that campaign but the organisers asked the band to delay making a public announcement “while they sought to resolve this crisis for all sides”.
In their statement, the UK band said: “Pulp were appalled to hear of the circumstances in which the Adelaide Festival board had cancelled the scheduled appearance of Dr. Randa Abdel-Fattah, and respect those who immediately spoke out against this decision. We want to make it absolutely clear that Pulp refuse to condone the silencing of voices. We celebrate difference, and oppose censorship, violence and oppression in all its forms.
“It is our understanding that the festival programmers are now acting in good faith. The festival board that made this dreadful decision have been replaced, and a full apology has been accepted by Dr. Randa Abdel-Fattah, who has been invited to appear next year. Given this new and welcome development we feel able, in good conscience, to honour our invitation to perform in Adelaide on 27 February. We hope that our free concert will be an opportunity for different communities to come together in peace and harmony.”
Pulp returned last year with their first album in 24 years, titled More.
