Title: Alicia Keys Faces Controversy Over Alleged Coded Message Supporting Hamas Amid Israel War
Subtitle: Criticism and Denials Surround Singer’s Instagram Post
Published: October 17, 2023 | Updated: October 17, 2023
By Adam S. Levy for Dailymail.com
Grammy-winning singer Alicia Keys found herself at the center of controversy on Monday when an antisemitism advocacy group claimed she used coded messages to express support for Hamas amid its ongoing war with Israel. The 42-year-old artist’s Instagram post featured her wearing a black jacket with white and green highlights, colors reminiscent of the Palestinian flag.
Keys captioned the post with a question about fearlessness and mentioned paragliding, alongside eye emojis. However, Keys later deleted the post once it garnered attention. The advocacy group StopAntisemitism questioned whether Keys was subtly signaling her support for the paragliders Hamas used in their attack on Israel on October 7, which triggered the current war.
In response to the controversy, Keys posted an Instagram Stories message denying any connection between her paragliding post and the ongoing conflict. She expressed her heartbreak over the loss of innocent lives and emphasized her prayers and support for peace.
Music manager Guy Oseary, who was born in Israel, came to Keys’ defense in an Instagram post, stating that the specific word used in her post was not connected to the conflict. Oseary highlighted Keys’ record of fighting for human rights and her positive influence on the world.
Despite Oseary’s defense, skepticism arose among social media users. Some questioned whether Keys should publicly condemn Hamas, while others believed her initial post held hidden meanings supporting the ongoing attacks on Israel.
Palestinians and Israelis have been engaged in a conflict for over ten days, resulting in a significant loss of life and forced displacement. More than 4,000 people have died, and over a million people have fled their homes in the Gaza Strip.
The controversy surrounding Alicia Keys’ Instagram post raises concerns about the use of social media and its unintended consequences amidst a volatile geopolitical situation.