Radiohead's Greenwood Cancels UK Shows Amid Credible Threats

Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood and Israeli musician Dudu Tassa canceled their planned UK shows due to credible threats received by the venues, which led organizers to conclude it was not safe to proceed. The cancellations followed a campaign by the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) and the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which argued the performances would 'whitewash' the conflict in Gaza. Greenwood and Tassa criticized the cancellations as a form of censorship and silencing, emphasizing that art should transcend politics and foster collaboration across cultural divides. They expressed disappointment that intimidation led to the loss of opportunities for musical exchange and dialogue. The BDS movement, meanwhile, welcomed the cancellations as a victory, reiterating its stance against events involving Israeli artists and alleging such collaborations serve to 'artwash' Israeli government actions.