MADRID, Spain (CelebrityAccess) — After a round of international criticism, organizers of a Spanish reggae festival have re-invited Jewish-American singer Matisyahu to perform at the festival.
The Rototom Sunsplash festival released a statement that apologizes to Matisyahu and invites him to play as originally scheduled.
The festival said that the decision to drop Matisyahu was motived by pressure by a local branch of the pro-Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement, which campaigned against Matisyahu's participation. However, after dropping Matisyahu, the festival came under government pressure, particularly after the World Jewish Congress wrote to Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, calling on him to condemn the cancellation.
In the letter sent Tuesday, the Jewish congress said the decision's "anti-Semitic overtones are not in Spain's best interests," and suggesting that they were troubled by the schedule change.
Matisyahu, whose name is Matthew Miller, has not said if he intends to perform at the festival. – Staff Writers
