Pulp are now set to perform their free performance at Elder Park after a boycott of the festival due to the removal of Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah.
The controversy between the band and Adelaide Festival was prompted by the removal of
Palestinian Australian academic Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah from the literary strand of the festival.
The Adelaide Festival’s board cancelled the performance from Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah, a known voice and critic of Israel, in a statement on January 8, stating that it would be “culturally sensitive”, due to the recent Hanukkah celebration shooting on Bondi Beach.
However, due to severe backlash, a boycott was formed of the literary strand, which was then
extended to the whole festival, including Pulp.
In a statement released by Pulp, they said: “We want to make it absolutely clear that Pulp refuse to
condone the silencing of voices. We celebrate difference, and oppose censorship, violence and
oppression in all its forms.
“Our management and representatives have been in dialogue with the festival organisers since last week, when the situation was first made public. Having informed them that we had decided to withdraw from the festival in support of the boycott, we were asked to delay an announcement while they sought to resolve this crisis for all sides.”
Adelaide Festival, in response, apologised, reversed the decision and will “reinstate Dr Abdel-Fattah’s
invitation to speak at the next Adelaide Writers’ Week in 2027”, along with appointing a new board for the festival.
The Writers Strand will still not go ahead this year, due to an estimated 180 authors pulling out of the
festival in support of the boycott.
Pulp continued on and said: “It is our understanding that the festival programmers are now acting
in good faith. The festival board that made this dreadful decision have been replaced, and a full
apology has been accepted by Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah, who has been invited to appear next year.
“Given this new and welcome development, we feel able, in good conscience, to honour our invitation
to perform in Adelaide on 27 February. We hope that our free concert will be an opportunity for
different communities to come together in peace and harmony.”
