Stevie Wonder Cancels Israel Concert Over Public Pressure: ‘I Am and Have Always Been Against War’
Stevie Wonder and the Rickey Minor Band perform as a tribute to Dick Clark at the 40th Anniversary American Music Awards Sunday, Nov. 18, 2012. (Photo: AP)
Music legend Stevie Wonder is calling off a concert for a group that raises money for the Israeli military, Reuters reports.
Wonder had been scheduled to perform on Dec. 6 for Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, which raises money for Israeli soldiers and their families, but canceled over public pressure and his position with the United Nations.
Apparently Wonder is an official “Messenger of Peace” for the global organization, and the U.N. suggested someone with such a title not support Israel’s military. The United Nations overwhelmingly voted to recognize a Palestinian state on Thursday, though, over vehement U.S. and Israeli objections as hopes for Mideast peace talks stalled.
“Given the current and very delicate situation in the Middle East, and with a heart that has always cried out for world unity, I will not be performing at the FIDF Gala,” Wonder said in a statement to Reuters.
According to E Online, Wonder added:
“I am respectfully withdrawing my participation from this year’s event to avoid the appearance of partiality…As a Messenger of Peace, I am and have always been against war, any war, any where. In consistently keeping with my spirit of giving, I will make a personal contribution to organizations that support Israeli and Palestinian children with disabilities.”
Reuters concludes:
According to a statement from the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation, a coalition that aims to change U.S. policy toward Palestine and Israel and support human rights and equality, Wonder’s decision came after a “growing outcry” from several organizations and three international signed petitions.
The protest is part of a “cultural boycott” led by organizations that oppose Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories, the statement said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Comments (158)
TrUe.AmEriCaN
Posted on December 1, 2012 at 9:18pmWOW, even stevie wonder is a liberal Israel hater and he is blind, what a total waste of talent and air space. To heck with stevie wonder, I hope his dumb rear walks out in the mist of traffic. Most Blacks are racist, gay lovingly religeous, and now Israel Haters! ……………Or at least bow like Obama to yes you guessed it………………………….The UN? ……………. Blind and utterly dumb!
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SacredHonor1776
Posted on December 2, 2012 at 6:37amUm, actually African Americans tend to be some of the most anti-gay, anti-gay marriage groups. It was one of the biggest communities that voted for Prop 8 for example.
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teresa2010
Posted on December 2, 2012 at 1:40pmWhat a worthless Arab lover…. Nothing like siding with the instigator of the WAR and violence… he should have went to Israel in support of the underdogs who have been attacked for centuries by these women hating, Jew hating bigots
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pavepaws
Posted on December 2, 2012 at 2:36pmWuss
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moonstruck2
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 8:57amYour Comments do not sound like you’re a true american! when you begin by putting a label on a man whose credentials far surpass what you’re trying to make him out to be. Stevey Wonders’ record shows that he is a man of peace, why dont you take him at his word rather than than try to make him into something he is not.
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moonstruck2
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:20amJust remember, socalled true.american, your ugly words will come back to haunt you! This ugly name calling is unecessary and it makes you look unamerican, vindictive, and a sore loser just because a musician decides to make a stand based on his personal reasons and his integrity? Give stevey Wonder the respect that he is due, not only as a Humanitarian and a philanthropist but a man who happens to be one of the greatest musicians in the history of this country!
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Twinspeedr
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 12:27pmIf ol’ Stevie is SO against war, he should never have played for the Obama who has been instrumental in many more innocent deaths in Libya, Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan war than the average Stevie Wonder concert-goer in Israel. Maybe Stevie is just an hypocrite and a closet Antisemite blaming Israel for defending themselves?!!
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spfoam1
Posted on December 1, 2012 at 9:10pmJust once I’d like to hear one of these blind spineless idiots scold the muslims for causing endless bloodshed and war.
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moonstruck2
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 8:59amAll of this vitriol just because a man takes a stand on principle. where is your sense of fair dealing here?
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fukjihad
Posted on December 1, 2012 at 8:54pmSteve, will you also be refusing to sing in the usa, our military is killing a lot more people than Israel. sounds like a publicity stunt, go to africa and stay there you turd
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TrUe.AmEriCaN
Posted on December 1, 2012 at 9:22pmHe refuse at the wish of the UN ! ………….. The United Nation disagreed with it so he chose not to sing for Israel……………………………… Spineless, blind black B@st@rd !
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roagie1
Posted on December 2, 2012 at 12:47pmagree
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moonstruck2
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:08amBlack People paid too high a price to go anywhere out of this country! Can your ancesters show the same kind of love of country more than Black People who’re born and raised in this country for the past 455 years? We fought bled and died in every amrican war theater that this country was involved in, only to come back and have to fight again against white people who refuse to exercise the principal of fair dealing in order to promote peace and equity among all americans!
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LeadNotFollow
Posted on December 1, 2012 at 8:48pm.
We God loving conservative Americans should do a fundraiser for Israel.
We could raise a lot more money than Stevie Wonder ever possibly could.
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Winedude
Posted on December 1, 2012 at 9:10pmNo, not likely. There is no way you’d raise more money than Stevie Wonder, if he actually did the concert.
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Distress
Posted on December 2, 2012 at 3:15amUnfortunately, I have a feeling we’re going to need all the help we can get.
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EdenRoza
Posted on December 2, 2012 at 3:51pmWe should have a fundraiser for Israel, no doubt they can stand on their own but they everyone needs help now and then.
What do you suppose we could do?
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moonstruck2
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:24amThat sounds like a good idea! just leave stevey Wonder out of this hateful vitriol coming from the mouths of those who think Black people dont have a right to take a stand on principle rather than to play along just to get along?
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chips1
Posted on December 1, 2012 at 8:45pmShe makes $9 on her lap top………Dancing!
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tharpdevenport
Posted on December 1, 2012 at 8:40pmWonder should use the liberal approach and just say all these anti-Israeli people and organizations, just hate him because he’s black, and that they’re all racist. Turn around is fair play!
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The_Jerk
Posted on December 1, 2012 at 8:44pmIt would be like the religious, zealot, sycophants, of Israel calling all of their critics antisemitic. They all do it.
OldSurfRat
Posted on December 1, 2012 at 8:52pmOh just send him to Israel and tell him he is in Ft Lauderdale. He’ll never know the difference.
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tharpdevenport
Posted on December 1, 2012 at 9:18pmOh, and Wonder, maybethose Palestinians would have more money for their disabld children if they didn’t spend it on guns, ammo, rockets, troops, supplies for troops, etc, things used against Israel. I say let their children suffer. It’s not the world’s responsibilty to take care of the world’s children because their parents are too busy funding and acting like terrorists.
You really want to help these disabled children? You do realize that if hey have something that they can recover from, they’ll be strapping suicide vests on, army suits to kill and attack Israelis, or used to surround points of launches so they can’t be hit with retaliatory strokes. That’s how valuable children are in Palestine.
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tzion
Posted on December 1, 2012 at 9:39pm@Jerk
What criticism was made? The IDF doesn’t make Israeli policy any more than our military makes ours. The IDF stands for Israel Defense Force the key word being Defense. To be against the IDF is to be against Israel’s right to defend itself, which in turn is antisemitic. Wonder should have stood his ground. Instead he gave into the pressure from the UN.
On a side note, where exactly do you stand on the UN? You seem to oppose their involvement here in the US but are all for them sticking their nose in Israel’s business. Seems like a double standard to me. But then again, this wouldn’t be the first time.
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longknifed
Posted on December 2, 2012 at 10:51amIDF = defense? It was formed with a terrorist nucleus.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Irgun_attacks
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ares338
Posted on December 1, 2012 at 8:32pmNot only can’t he see…He can’t freaking think either.
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AbrahamsSheepdog
Posted on December 1, 2012 at 9:32pmNow that’s funny! 1 WoOF
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moonstruck2
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:29amThats a stupid comment! but of course you’re entitled to that!
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quiltgal
Posted on December 1, 2012 at 8:30pmI guess Stevie has ruled out defending oneself. After all, that might provoke some icky conflict. He thinks you should be gracious if someone bombs your home, offer them a bite to eat, wish them a good day as they confiscate your stuff, and tell them “y’all come back” with a smile and a cheery wave.
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Capt_Gregg
Posted on December 1, 2012 at 9:17pmThey should offer the gig to Hank Williams, Jr. He’s more politically in tune with their cause, and can probably draw as large — if not larger — crowd..
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benrush
Posted on December 2, 2012 at 10:03amSince when is flying thousands of miles to foreign countries to fight two foreign enemies, self defense? At best, the US has financially supported both sides of the conflict, and the globalists agenda has been perfectly supported. They want the appearance of conflict so they can keep milking us. War doesn’t solve anything, never has, never will, but you are being played by a sophisticated advertising scheme, to rile you up and con you into spending your money on warfare. This is how it goes on the neo-con side of the house. on the liberal side, they rile up people who are on the welfare side. The trouble is, it’s the same house, two different wings of the globalist party, and both wings are convinced they need to spend the money and give the power to the central authorities. You are part of the problem.
The solution is to be free of both nonsensical and extra-Constitutional lies.
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ourig
Posted on December 1, 2012 at 8:13pmi am so tired to ear about all this so called singers boycotting israel …. we israeli don’t need ear you Stevie …and don’t call us to say you love us ….. jerk
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The_Jerk
Posted on December 1, 2012 at 8:29pmEveryone else is so tired of the perpetual wars and killing. You’re all nuts. America needs to stay out.
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strawberry411a
Posted on December 1, 2012 at 9:35pmAmerica needs to stay OUT? You really are a pip. In 4 years you will be screaming for help as our brothers in the middle east make their move here in the good old USA. If all goes as planned they will line you libs up first….and I will pay money to hear you screaming “I am your friend. I HATE the Christians”. I have never seen so many parasites sucking the life from the very country that feeds them…..but not for long. Not for long at all.
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tzion
Posted on December 1, 2012 at 10:33pm@jerk
If anyone should stay out of it it’s the UN.
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DIR
Posted on December 1, 2012 at 10:39pm@STRAWBERRY411A
I understand your frustration, but wouldn’t it be better to send what’shisname (you know, el Jerk) to the middle east as a good-will ambassador, then while he’s gone revoke his citizenship so he can’t come back. As for Stevie who care’s if he refuses to go. No money out of the Jews pockets. Plus now they don’t have to hear “You are the sunshine of my life.” I think the Jews invited Stevie there so they could record that song and play it to the Palestinians on loudspeakers in order to drive them nuts, which they already are, but hopefully getting the Palestinians all ticked off at Stevie so that they focus their anger and missles at him and his home. Those Jewish people aren’t stupid. By the way have you ever heard “You are the sunshine of my life” in Yiddish? It’s a life changing experience and not one you will soon want to repeat.
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drenfroe
Posted on December 1, 2012 at 8:10pmThey are only against war if it is the USA or Israel. Otherwise they are for it. Muslim blacks have joined the enemy.
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moonstruck2
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:42amHave Black People in this country ever joined Al queda? have blacks ever sided with an enemy of america when Blacks were always the ones who’re among the first to fight the enemy overseas only to come back home and have to fight for socalled civil rights? Dont sell Black People short when it comes to helping to defend this country against a foreign enemy!!
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Bronx
Posted on December 1, 2012 at 8:10pmI see said the blind man.
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Eastinfection
Posted on December 2, 2012 at 11:52amI love the old SNL Eddie Murphy/ Joe Piscopo version of “Ebony and Ivory”…
http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/14115/
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songbird7
Posted on December 1, 2012 at 8:05pmhe is absolutely right !
we dont need an army , we can all live like woodstock
we can all feel the fresh air of woodstock and the NWO that is happening right now arround us , in all of that peace&love countries …
it is about time that us , the israelis , will be a pro peace and democracy state like all the shariiaa states around us , instead of keep bieng a WAR MONGERS and just murdering millions of people , like we did in the 40′s …
good on you mister stevie !
now , no one is wonder … you are absolutely on the right side
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db321
Posted on December 2, 2012 at 11:32amSo Songbird7 – when this Piece and Love NWO Woodstock thing destroys Israel. Then who’s next’s. Let me guess America. Well I am not holding my breath for a bunch of Cave Dwellers to rule the World as your False Profit Mohammed thought. I don’t think God is listening to Obama or Mohammed. My Money is on Israel standing when the dust settles.
I believe that smell you are smelling is your body rotting from the tip of your head to the tip of your toes. You’ll soon be singing from the lake of fire. Have a nice swim.
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songbird7
Posted on December 2, 2012 at 4:12pmDB321 – i am not a sendni**er
i am an israeli men from israel , the whole comment was cynical
read the comment carefully mate …
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LeadNotFollow
Posted on December 1, 2012 at 8:02pm.
Bet old, fat, bald, no talent, has-been, Stevie Wonder, would be on the first jet out of the U.S. if he were asked to perform for hate filled, violent, radical Muslims.
I’ve never thought Stevie was talented or likable. I’ve always known which side he is on. Good riddance. Israel doesn’t need any God hating hypocrites raising funds for their military.
May God always bless and protect Israel.
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moonstruck2
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:46amIf you call that a blessing, God fearing people would stay away from being contaminated by those kinds of “blessings”!
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AmericaMustBeFree
Posted on December 1, 2012 at 8:01pmIn other words, i am a coward.. I can’t take the heat, so i am bowing out! C’mon stevie tell the truth!!
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moonstruck2
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:52amHis intelligence in making the right decision is all the truth you need to know!
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booger71
Posted on December 1, 2012 at 7:55pmYour mom couldn’t make 9 dollars a month on her back
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susie4dy
Posted on December 1, 2012 at 7:55pmStevie wonder is a coward!
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rickc34
Posted on December 1, 2012 at 8:01pmYep weak. No Jesus no peace-know Jesus know peace. There will be no peace in the middle east until the Prince of Peace rules , come quickly Lord Jesus.
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4truth2all
Posted on December 1, 2012 at 8:02pmSo the UN overruled the freedoms of America
Stevie is owned
Bet they’ed let you do one for the freedom of there “Pals estians.”
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chips1
Posted on December 1, 2012 at 8:50pmDon’t come too quickly, Jesus. I think we can correct our mistakes. Give us another chance. We just need a little help with the vote counting. Thanks much!!!!!
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AllLost
Posted on December 1, 2012 at 7:52pmI am too now and always against war. I am against being shelled by rockets now and always. I am against evil men, boy, women, and girls blowing up schools and buses. You Mr. Wonder have lost a fan as you cannot see evil for evil, and you would live in the Warsaw ghetto without doing anything against those that would kill the people.
I am sick of your kind. You hate the sheepdog and love the wolf. You hate taking action to protect the righteous, and most of all of this is done in the name of MONEY.
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moonstruck2
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:57amLeave Tevey Wonder alone with your ugly,vile and ungrateful comments!
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progressiveslayer
Posted on December 1, 2012 at 7:50pmEVERYBODY”S against war Stevie! You just don’t see it do you? Sometimes wars have to be fought though,especially when subhumans are targeting civilians and shelling schools and hospitals in Israel.
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OlefromMN
Posted on December 1, 2012 at 7:52pmWell said. The left/progressives will never get it.
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Stelex
Posted on December 1, 2012 at 8:20pmStevie chose the “lower ground”. so sick of these a$$wipes pretending to care about stuff to impress there a$$wipe friends.
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JACKTHETOAD
Posted on December 2, 2012 at 3:40amRight as rain, Slayer. I wish everyone was against war all at once. An explosion of Love. …sigh.
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moonstruck2
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:02amJust dont forget that what makes this so tragic is that both sides are shelling innocent civilians. You should’nt be so onesided!
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possom
Posted on December 1, 2012 at 7:48pmI bet if the terrorist’s called he’d come a run’in with a handful of obamabuck’s!
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Polarized America
Posted on December 1, 2012 at 7:48pm.
……………….No Wonder
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The-Monk
Posted on December 1, 2012 at 7:46pmI wonder if Wonder has wondered about what the UN is wondering about when they let Wonder be a “Friends of the Israel Defense Forces” and an official “Messenger of Peace” for the wondrous global organization the UN has wondrously put in place for the wonderment of those who wonder?
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AmericanStrega
Posted on December 1, 2012 at 7:54pmHmmm, I wonder? lol
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4truth2all
Posted on December 1, 2012 at 8:05pma wonderful statement of wonderment …
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AmericanStrega
Posted on December 1, 2012 at 7:46pmIs this just simply a case of the blind leading the blind?
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Apple Bite
Posted on December 1, 2012 at 7:45pmThere’s better performers out there. Ashame Wonder had pressure applied to him and somebody with an obvious bias is not telling him the truth about the situation.
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gyro
Posted on December 1, 2012 at 8:17pmthis
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Tri-ox
Posted on December 1, 2012 at 7:43pmStevie Wonder is a typical obamaturd.
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neverending
Posted on December 1, 2012 at 7:42pmOh a big boo hoo hoo stevie. Maybe you got a call from the commie in chief!
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mercenary4freedom
Posted on December 1, 2012 at 8:30pmWasn’t he singing about Iraq, Iran back in the day? The blacks that support obunghole are turning against the jews, yet the American jews still support obungo. Could it be that the blacks want the muslims to help them overrun us?
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TiredAmerican7
Posted on December 1, 2012 at 11:28pmmercenary4freedom- No, there are some Blacks who are Christians and don’t want to see muslims overrun you or anybody else. They won’t skip killing a Black person because of their skin color. All that matters to the extremists is Islam, period. Some will first die, before renouncing our God for Mohammed.
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