Why have rapper Ghali’s Israel comments led to Winter Olympics criticism?

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The Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics unfastened connected Monday but 1 rapper Ghali’s inclusion draws disapproval successful his autochthonal Italy.

Published On 31 Jan 2026

The inclusion ‌of Italian rapper Ghali successful the formed of performers astatine the ‍opening ceremonial of ‍the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics has led to a quality successful Italy.

The artist, calved successful Milan to Tunisian parents, has been criticised successful Italy due to the fact that of his comments connected Israel’s genocidal warfare connected Gaza.

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Who is criticising Ghali’s inclusion astatine the Winter Olympics?

Members of Italy’s right-wing League party, portion of Prime ⁠Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government, person criticised the prime of Ghali to ‍perform astatine the lawsuit successful the San Siro stadium connected February 6.

What is Ghali criticised for saying astir Israel?

Ghali was astatine the centre of a governmental spat 2 years agone during the fashionable Sanremo opus contest, ‍when helium ⁠called for a “stop to the genocide” successful notation to Israel’s genocidal warfare connected Gaza.

A League enactment root called Ghali a “pro-Palestinian fanatic” who hated Israel and the centre-right, successful comments to the Italian ​media.

Is Ghali’s Winter Olympics opening ceremonial relation acceptable to beryllium controversial?

Sport Minister Andrea Abodi said helium did not ‌expect Ghali to usage the Olympic signifier to marque a governmental point.

“I americium not embarrassed to disagree with Ghali’s views and the messages helium has sent, but I judge that ‌a state indispensable beryllium capable to sorb the interaction of an creator who has expressed an sentiment that ‌we bash not share, which volition not beryllium ⁠expressed connected that stage,” helium said.

What different names volition beryllium alongside Ghali to unfastened the Milano Cortino Games?

Ghali, who has not commented connected the dispute, is apt to entreaty to a younger assemblage much than different performers astatine the opening ceremony, who volition ‌include tenor Andrea Bocelli and US popular vocalist Mariah Carey.

Franco-Malian popular prima Aya Nakamura was the people of racist maltreatment online erstwhile it emerged that ‍she would sing astatine the opening of the Summer Olympics successful Paris successful 2024.

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