Grammys Accused of 'Israel Propaganda'

The 2024 Grammy Awards has been criticized by some online for allegedly promoting pro-Israeli propaganda.

Following a series of emotional tributes throughout the evening on Sunday night, Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. paid tribute to those who lost their lives during Hamas' attack on Israel's Supernova Music Festival on October 7, 2023.

On October 7, Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel, which they said was retribution for worsening conditions for Palestinians. In response, Israel launched hundreds of airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, followed by extensive ground operations. At least 1,200 people have been killed in Israel, while 27,365 Palestinians have been killed, with many more injured and over 1.5 million internally displaced in Gaza, according to the Associated Press.

However, the industry magnate was quickly called out online for allegedly promoting pro-Israeli propaganda on stage.

Newsweek contacted the Recording Academy and a representative for Mason for comment via email on Monday.

"Music must always be our safe space; when that is violated, it strikes at the very core of who we are," he said during his speech.

Of the attack on festivalgoers, he said, "That day, and all the tragic days that have followed, have been awful for the world to bear as we mourn the loss of all innocent lives.

"We live in a world divided by so much. And maybe music can't solve everything, but let us all agree, music must remain the common ground upon which we all stand, together in peace and harmony. Because music has always been one of humanity's greatest connectors."

Mason went on to say that music should be something that unifies people and used the string quartet performing under him as an example.

"As individuals, they sound really good, but together, they achieve something beautiful they could never do apart," he said.

"These musicians of Palestinian, Israeli, and Arab descent are here playing together. Now is the time for us, for humanity, to play together and to come together with empathy and with love."

Mason also recognized the series of coordinated terrorist attacks at the Bataclan concert hall in Paris in 2015, the bombing at Manchester Arena in England in 2017 and the mass shooting at the Route 91 Harvest Music festival in Las Vegas in 2017.

His speech didn't go down with people on X, formerly Twitter, with many people taking to the social media platform to criticize him as well as the Grammys.

"What the hell is this from the #GRAMMYs. Not a word for 30,000 exterminated Palestinians, but you have words for Israelis killed? Where are your words for all of the Palestinian musicians killed, jailed and tortured by the Israeli state? F*** off," one person wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

"reducing the genocide of palestinians to a metaphor about how "people from different backgrounds can play together in harmony" when 20,000+ palestinians have been killed is so vile. f*** that bald mf. f*** the academy. free palestine always," someone else wrote.

"genuinely f*** the grammys for this weird ass israel propaganda. FREE PALESTINE," a third person wrote.

A fourth added: "Israel propaganda in the grammys???? Oh this will get BAD."

Some viewers also took issue with the fact that singer Annie Lennox was allegedly cut off when she concluded her tribute performance of Sinead O'Connor's "Nothing Compares 2 U" by raising her fist and saying: "Artists for ceasefire. Peace in the world."

"'Peace for all' right after they cut Annie Lennox's mic fast as hell once she called for ceasefire. Alright," one X user wrote.

"#GRAMMYs cut Annie Lennox's speech calling for ceasefire but allow CEO Harvey Mason Jr. to use Manchester attack to promote Israeli propaganda. Truly disgusting," said another.

A third added: "it's almost disgusting how annie lennox's call for a ceasefire was later followed up with some half assed, long winded speech in favor of israel. it's always going to be free palestine."