OMAR VEGA/Getty Images via AFP
The Black Eyed Peas, here on November 29, 2022, wear a rainbow armband at the Polish TV New Year’s Concert in support of the LGBTQ+ community in Poland.
LGBTQ+ – Polish conservatives didn’t like the surprise. During the New Year’s concert, broadcast by Polish public broadcaster TVP on Saturday (December 31), members of the Black Eyed Peas band wore rainbow-colored armbands in support of the country’s oppressed LGBTQ+ community. Enough to make elected officials, ministers and figures on the right and far right jump.
“Homo propaganda on TVP for 1 million dollars. It’s a pity,” commented Deputy Agriculture Minister Janusz Kowalski from the conservative Poland Solidarity Party (PS) shortly after the presentation on Twitter. “LGBT advertising on the TVP channel. SHAME! ” Also denounced MP Marcin Warchol, also a member of the PS, which is part of the alliance currently ruling in Warsaw.
🧵01: When 🇵🇱s rather homophobic #TVP @TVP national broadcaster invites @blackeyedpeas & #SaraJames to perform at t… https://t.co/gY39PZZZpF
— Adam Potrykus (Stoffski) (@Adam__Potrykus)
Homopropaganda w TVP za 1 million dolarów. To nie byla dobra zmiana. Wstyd.
— Janusz Kowalski 🇵🇱 (@JKowalski_posel)
Promocja LGBT with #TVP2 . WSTYD! To never #SylwesterMarzeń lecz Sylwester Wynaturzeń. https://t.co/T5E1ts10iW
— Marcin Warchoł (@marcinwarchol)
In response to the latter, Will.I.Am countered, “Unity, Tolerance, Understanding, Oneness, Respect, Diversity and Inclusion… THIS IS LOVE… Humans are humans and we should honor and love all of them, different types of people on Earth and learn from them…”
#Where is the love??? Unity, Tolerance, Understanding, Unity, Respect, Diversity and Inclusion…THIS IS LOVE…People are p… https://t.co/42KnVV9nEf
— will.i.am (@iamwill)
“Hypocrisy,” say Polish conservatives
“Why didn’t you boycott the World Cup in Qatar because the country treats women, migrants and the LGBTQ+ community? They sold principles for a profit. Hypocrisy,” countered the Polish MP. The American artist justified himself: “We went to these places to spread LOVE…why boycott when you can go straight to the source and do your best to inspire it.” »
For his part, Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro deplored this symbol as being synonymous with “oppression, enslavement, the anti-liberty revolution of the left”. “It came as a surprise to us when public television decided to consciously engage in the promotion of symbols and values that contradict the values close to our constituents and our beliefs,” he added.
Wiceminister @JKowalski_posel: Tęczowa flaga LGBT jest symbolm opresji, zniewolenia, antywolnościowej rewolucji le… https://t.co/dFx6m9dE0O
— Solidarna Polska (@SolidarnaPL)
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki remained more measured: “We don’t want to restrict the expressive possibilities of music groups that perform their program. We care about family and values, but we are also tolerant of others. »
“We are not the Black Eyed PiS”
During the concert, Will.I.Am thanked Polish viewers who are “open in heart and mind” and dedicated the hit “Where is the love” to the victims of hate in 2022, regardless of religion, origin or sexual orientation. The performance was filmed live by the artist, as you can see in the video below.
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Backstage, the singer continued filming and pitched in: “We are the Black Eyed Peas. But you can also say the Black Eyed Peace [pour paix en anglais], because we are for peace, equality, harmony. But we are not the Black Eyed PiS [acronyme du parti conservateur polonais au pouvoir]. »
The ex-Spice Girl Melanie C had given up participation in this show a few days before this concert because of “issues that were brought on”. [s]attention and that do not correspond to the communities that[elle] Support.” When she didn’t give her name, she was referring to the LGBTQ+ community, who also congratulated her on her position.
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