Sam Smith 'won’t play Tel Aviv show' that brought BDS pressure

British musician Sam Smith will no longer play a planned show in Tel Aviv after coming under fierce criticism from pro-Palestine groups.

Organisers of a two-day series of shows in Tel Aviv’s Park Hayarkon said it was cancelling the entire first day of the event which Smith was headlining, Gay Times reported on Friday.

"Due to unforeseeable technical and logistical problems on May 31, the concerts of that evening (including Sam Smith) will not happen," Gay Times quoted a statement from the organisers as saying.

The musician, who identifies as non-binary and uses they/them pronouns, came under fierce criticism for their decision to play in Tel Aviv at the Summer in the City series of shows.

Pro-Palestine groups and queer activists - including queer Palestinians - said Smith’s decision to play the show contributed to Israeli 'pinkwashing' — the use of a pro-LGBTQ+ agenda to mask violations of the rights of Palestinians.

Some Palestinian rights groups hailed the cancellation of the show as a victory of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, who had pressed Smith to cancel the show partly through a petition that garnered thousands of signatures.

As of 13:00 GMT, there has been no official statement from Smith. The New Arab has contacted Creative Arts Agency, the agency representing the singer, for confirmation of the cancellation.

The New Arab has also contacted Leaan, promoters of the Summer in the City series, to find out whether pressure from the BDS movement brought about the cancellation.