Celebrities
Turkey Cancels Robbie Williams’ Istanbul Concert Over Safety Concerns
Turkish authorities have cancelled Robbie Williams’ concert scheduled for October 7 in Istanbul, citing “safety concerns” amid growing tensions surrounding the Gaza war anniversary.
The show was set to take place on the anniversary of the Hamas-led attacks on Israel, which triggered the ongoing Gaza conflict and sparked global protests.
According to a source from the Istanbul governor’s office, the decision was made “in the interests of public safety” after several groups called for demonstrations against the British pop star’s performance.
“City authorities have cancelled the show, in the interests of public safety,” Williams shared on his Instagram story.
“The last thing I would ever want to do is jeopardise the safety of my fans, their safety and security come first.”
The organising company confirmed the cancellation, noting that ticket refunds would be processed through the purchase platform.
Williams, 51, whose wife is Jewish, has previously performed in Israel in 2015 and 2023 despite calls from pro-Palestinian activists urging him to boycott the country.
The planned concert had drawn backlash from Turkish NGOs and activist groups, including the Islamic Solidarity Platform, which announced plans to protest under the slogan, “Zionist Robbie Williams, get out of Turkey!”
In a similar case last month, Turkish authorities banned French singer Enrico Macias from performing in Istanbul following protests over his pro-Israel views. The 86-year-old told AFP he was “deeply surprised and saddened” by the decision after performing in Turkey for six decades.
The Istanbul governor’s office has not released further details regarding the nature of the safety threats that led to the ban.
