Scottish singer-songwriter and political activist Annie Lennox called for a ceasefire in Gaza at the end of her performance at Sunday night’s Grammy Awards.
Lennox paid tribute to the late Sinéad O’Connor – who converted to Islam and changed her name to Shuhada’ Sadaqat in 2018 – during a lengthy in memoriam segment, in which she covered the late musician’s signature song, “Nothing Compares 2 U.”
At the end of the performance, Lennox lifted her left hand and said, “Artists for ceasefire, peace in the world.”
Over the last few months, Lennox has ceaselessly advocated for a ceasefire. Earlier in the day on Sunday, Lennox posted a lengthy Instagram caption in which she expressed her outrage at the ongoing bombings in Gaza. “Is there ANY point in posting every day to keep calling for peace and ceasefire, while it’s perfectly obvious that the military objective is to bring about the total decimation of Gaza and her people?” she wrote. “I find it impossible to witness these appalling atrocities and just be indifferent or silent.”
Lennox was not alone in her support of Palestine at the Grammys. Singer-musician Esperanza Spalding wore a keffiyeh to the event, according to Rolling Stone; while the group Boygenius – consisting of Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus, and Julien Baker – donned pins advertising the pro-ceasefire petition Artists Call for Ceasefire Now.
The Artists for Ceasefire movement began late last year in response to the Israel-Gaza war, with a number of prominent musicians, actors, filmmakers and other multidisciplinary artists co-signing a message to US President Joe Biden demanding an end to the conflict and greater focus on humanitarian aid.—Agencies
