The Offensiveness of Roger Waters’ Performance in Berlin Condemned by US

Analysis of the Backlash Against Roger Waters’ Berlin Performance

Overview

The recent performance of Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters in Berlin has sparked controversy, with the United States State Department denouncing it as “deeply offensive to Jewish people.” During the performance, Waters wore a black trench coat with a swastika-like emblem, and Berlin police are now investigating him on suspicion of “incitement of the people.” Critics, including the U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism Deborah Lipstadt, have called the concert “Holocaust distortion.” Waters has defended his performance, saying that it is a statement against fascism, injustice, and bigotry.

Antisemitic Tropes and Imagery

The U.S. State Department has accused Waters of using antisemitic tropes and of minimizing the Holocaust in his Berlin concert. While the department did not give specific examples of these tropes, images from the concert showed Waters aiming an imitation machine gun at the audience as he recreated scenes from “The Wall,” a film based on Pink Floyd’s 1979 album that critiques fascism. The department’s statement suggests that these actions and images were deeply problematic.

Political Motivations

Waters has rejected criticism of his performance, calling it “disingenuous and politically motivated.” It is not entirely clear what Waters meant by this statement, but it is possible that he was referring to criticism from pro-Israel groups or individuals who view him as anti-Israel or anti-Semitic. Waters has been a vocal advocate for the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement, which seeks to pressure Israel to end its occupation of Palestinian territories. Some pro-Israel groups see this position as tantamount to delegitimizing Israel.

Advice and Editorial

While it is important to protect free speech and artistic expression, it is equally important to be vigilant about the use of hateful or inflammatory language or imagery. It is not enough to simply claim that a performance is “against fascism” or “anti-injustice” without carefully considering the harm that might be caused by the use of certain symbols or allusions. In this case, it appears that Waters’ use of a swastika-like emblem and an imitation machine gun was deeply problematic and could be reasonably interpreted as offensive to Jewish people. Waters’ defense of his performance is not entirely convincing, and it is possible that he does not fully appreciate the impact that these actions and images might have. It is important to continue to call out hate speech and bigotry wherever it occurs, even when it comes from respected or influential figures in the arts or politics.