Pink Floyd's Roger Waters Labels Berlin Gig Controversy A 'Smear'
Celebrity / News

Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters Labels Berlin Gig Controversy A ‘Smear’

Posted by

Following a contentious incident in Germany, Roger Waters, the frontman of Pink Floyd, has made a firm statement against all forms of “fascism.” The rockstar’s decision to wear a Nazi-inspired uniform during a concert in Berlin prompted an investigation by local authorities. Social media images circulated, showing Waters on stage at the Mercedes-Benz arena donning a black coat adorned with red armbands and mimicking a World War II sub-machine gun.

The attire worn by Roger Waters on stage raised concerns about the glorification or justification of Nazi rule. An investigation is being conducted on the suspicion of incitement to public hatred.

Pink Floyd's Roger Waters Labels Berlin Gig Controversy A 'Smear'

Once the police investigation concludes, the case will be transferred to Berlin prosecutors for further proceedings. Felix Klein, the German government’s commissioner for combating anti-Semitism, has called for Waters to be held accountable, emphasizing the need for vigilance among authorities in light of this incident. Additionally, Klein suggested that music venues reconsider their association with the musician. 

However, Waters took to his Twitter account to address the controversy surrounding his Berlin concert. 

He acknowledged his performance had faced unjustified criticism from people aiming to smear his reputation and stifle his voice due to disagreements with his political views. Waters firmly rejected any efforts to portray his show as anything other than anti-Fascist, considering such portrayals to be dishonest and driven by political motivations. “The elements of my performance that have been questioned are quite clearly a statement in opposition to fascism, injustice, and bigotry in all its forms,” he said.

Waters added, “The depiction of an unhinged fascist demagogue has been a feature of my shows since Pink Floyd’s ‘The Wall’ in 1980. I have spent my entire life speaking out against authoritarianism and oppression where I set it… My parents fought the Nazis in World War II, with my father paying the ultimate price,” he said. “Regardless of the consequences of the attacks against me, I will continue to condemn injustice and all those who perpetrate it.”

Waters has been touring several German cities as part of his “This Is Not A Drill” tour in recent weeks. 

However, his performances have stirred controversy, leading some city officials to make attempts to ban him from performing. During his concert in Berlin, Waters projected the names of several deceased individuals on a large screen, including Anne Frank, the young Jewish girl who tragically perished in a Nazi concentration camp. Another name displayed was Shireen Abu Akleh, a Palestinian-American Al Jazeera journalist who was fatally shot by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank the previous year.