Alicia Keys has issued an apology for a recent Instagram post about paragliding, which was posted amidst the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The renowned ‘Empire State of Mind’ singer was compelled to delete her Instagram post after facing criticism for the timing of her message. Her post about pursuing paragliding came shortly after Hamas used paragliders in an attack during an Israeli festival on October 7.
In the original post, alongside a photo of herself donning a green leather racing jacket and accompanied by two side-eye emojis, Alicia Keys wrote, “Question: What would u do if you weren’t afraid of anything??? Tell me your truth … I’ve had my eyes on paragliding (sic).”
The choice of outfit in the photo also triggered controversy, as some individuals perceived the colors—green, black, and white—to be reminiscent of the black, white, green, and red on the Palestinian flag.
However, Alicia, who has since removed the post, vehemently denied any connection between her paragliding message and the ongoing events in the region. She clarified on her Instagram Story, stating, “The post I shared earlier was COMPLETELY unrelated in any way to the recent devastating loss of innocent lives. My heart has been breaking… I pray for and stand for peace.”
Alicia Keys received support from music manager Guy Oseary, who was born in Israel. He defended the singer and explained that she was unaware of the implications of her post. Oseary wrote on Instagram, “There’s talk of an antisemitic post that my dear friend Alicia Keys had up on her Instagram. I can confirm to anyone in my community that needs to hear it: it’s NOT true. There was a specific word in her post that our community, at this very painful time, finds very triggering, but it was absolutely not connected in any way.”
He continued, “I spoke to Alicia and she was horrified to learn what the word implied and immediately took it down. Alicia has always been a fighter for all human rights. I’ve had a front-row seat for over a decade, seeing her positive influence in the world. Her humanitarian work reflects her empathy and her heart.”
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