Drake's Reaction to Pro-Palestine Protest Sparks Controversy

SadaNews - The Canadian artist Drake's response to a pro-Palestine protest that gathered outside the hotel where he is staying in Copenhagen has sparked a wave of controversy, prompting social media users to try to interpret his stance on the Palestinian issue.

Social media users widely shared a video of the Canadian rapper Drake during his European tour with PartyNextDoor, where a number of demonstrators supporting the Palestinian cause were protesting in front of his hotel.

In the video, Drake appeared as he stepped out onto the balcony to greet the protesters, making a heart sign with his hand before returning inside, which led to intense discussions on social media.

Drake's reaction caused a division among the audience, with many praising his stance in humanitarian solidarity with the demonstrators calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, while others pointed out that Drake had not previously expressed his opinion on what is happening in Gaza. One user wrote: "It's funny that Kendrick Lamar is considered the revolutionary rapper, yet he has never commented on Palestine or Sudan.".

At the same time, some considered Drake's reaction to lack a political stance, viewing it merely as a greeting to the audience as they passed by his residence.

Despite the Canadian artist not speaking explicitly about the Palestinian issue, he was among the list of artists who signed an open letter at the end of 2023, directed to former US President Joe Biden, to pressure Israel to stop the war on Gaza.

The letter emphasized the signatory artists' commitment to preserving lives and avoiding escalation, stating: "As artists and advocates, but first and foremost as human beings, we witness the devastating loss of life and the atrocities occurring in Israel and Palestine. We urge you to call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and a ceasefire in Gaza and Israel before we lose more lives.".

The letter continued: "We refuse to tell future generations the story of our silence and that we stood by and did nothing. As the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths told UN News: "History is watching.".

The letter stressed the need for humanitarian and medical assistance to fully reach the Gaza Strip amid ongoing bombings in the area.

A large number of Hollywood stars joined this letter, including artists Mark Ruffalo, Jennifer Lopez, Victoria Monét, Macklemore, Kehlani, Killer Mike, Jordan Peele, Aminé, Belly, Kaytranada, and Drake's famous producer Noah "40" Shebib.

After Drake's name appeared on that list, the Canadian rapper faced numerous criticisms that prompted his father, Dennis Graham, to respond and defend him, especially as some criticized his lack of direct commentary on the issue.

Drake's father explained his son's position by stating that famous individuals "are compelled to speak or remain silent equally," and that making a statement on this topic is undoubtedly a risk.

On another front, the Canadian rapper Drake continues his musical tour titled Some Special Shows 4 U with PartyNextDoor to support their joint album Some Sexy Songs 4 U.

The tour is scheduled to conclude in September, coinciding with the release of his upcoming solo album titled Iceman, from which several songs have already been released, including What Did I Miss in July, as well as the song Which One.