Rihanna gets cancelled by Islamists for saying that Israeli and Palestinian lives are equal

Popstar and part-time social commentator Rihanna found herself in hot water today after she posted a message on her Instagram condemning the loss of life of both Palestinians and Israelis in the recent clashes between the two sides. Islamist social media users took to Twitter in order to show their displeasure regarding the message, which they perceived to be anti-Palestinian because it took into account the loss of Israeli lives as well as Palestinian lives. They accused the famous singer of “both-siding” the issue, i.e. accusing both Palestinians and Israelis of the conflict, when, according to them, only Israel is the aggressive party.

“My heart is breaking with the violence I’m seeing displayed between Israel and Palestine! I can’t bear to see it!” wrote Rihanna, in a seemingly non-controversial message.

However, Islamists were quick to strike against the seemingly peaceful message. “Rihanna is giving such “all lives matter-energy. “I’m disappointed. It’s not a conflict!! It’s one-sided”, wrote a Twitter user. This sentiment was popular online, amassing over 1,400 retweets and 7,200 likes on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/asraa_alb123/status/1392690058919096324?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Another tweet took issue with the fact that Rihanna added the word “innocent” with Israeli, somehow implying that innocent Israeli civilians cannot be victims of Palestinian violence. This tweet was then quote tweeted by a Palestinian activist with #ShiekhJarrah in their name. She then goes on to dutifully lecture Rihanna, taking issue with the “false equivalency” of Israeli and Palestinian lives.

https://twitter.com/NourDajanii/status/1392687017440518146?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw https://twitter.com/jennineak/status/1392705522562789378?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

One social media user refused to buy any upcoming Rihanna albums, telling the singer to keep her album to herself.

https://twitter.com/itsbosstimewwe/status/1392693973282541569?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Rihanna has commented on the Israel-Palestine issue before, famously tweeting “#Free Palestine” in 2014 before eventually deleting it after backlash. Her fans did not forget to remind Rihanna of this fact.

https://twitter.com/headfirstrep/status/1392695927396311041?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

One Twitter user did not pass up the opportunity to tell Rihanna how disappointed she was.

https://twitter.com/bilquis7_/status/1392689289268547585?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Israel-Palestine Conflict

The conflict between Israel and Palestine escalated when Palestinian terror unit Hamas fired hundreds of rockets at Jerusalem and central Israel, and the Israeli Defense Forces responded back in kind. The main reason behind the current conflict is the Sheikh Jarrah property dispute, a dispute which can lead to the evictions of around 300 Palestinians from the East Jerusalem neighbourhood.