Israeli DJ Skazi said Saturday that pro-Palestinian activists were behind the cancellation of his scheduled performance at the Tomorrowland music festival in Belgium.
Upon returning to Israel, the artist, whose real name is Asher Swissa, told reporters that intense pressure from a pro-Palestinian organization led to his removal from the lineup.
“There was a pro-Palestinian organization that was really on our backs, doing everything to stop it from happening,” Skazi said. “It was all very intense and threatening.”
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Reports in Belgian media earlier this week suggested there were questions surrounding his appearance, citing internal discussions within the festival’s management over pressure from a pro-Palestinian group. While organizers initially decided to let Skazi perform, albeit without displaying Israeli flags, he later announced the cancellation himself, attributing it to "security concerns."
Tomorrowland’s organizers indicated the decision had not come from them. In a statement to Ynet, the festival said, “We respect and appreciate Skazi’s decision to withdraw at this time. Like many of our partners, we were faced with questions regarding his performance, and we value the open and respectful dialogue that followed.”
“At Tomorrowland, we are fully committed to fostering a safe and respectful environment for everyone—this has always been, and will continue to be, at the heart of what we do,” the statement continued. “We maintain deep respect for Skazi’s musical journey and hope to hear his music on one of our stages again in the future.”