MTV on Thursday canceled its EMA (Europe Music Awards) awards ceremony scheduled for November 5 in Villepinte in the Paris region “in light of the dramatic events in Israel and Gaza.”
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MTV also mentioned in its press release “a measure of caution towards the thousands of employees, team members, artists, fans and partners who traveled from all over the world to share in the success of this show.” Many stars were expected at this ceremony, including the French star DJ David Guetta.
“Every year, the MTV EMAs focus on world music,” the broadcaster continues. “But given the dramatic events unfolding in Israel and Gaza, we believe the time is not right for an international celebration. As thousands of people have lost their lives, it is time to reflect.
“The MTV EMAs look forward to seeing you again in November 2024!”, it concludes.
The MTV EMA 2023 was scheduled to be broadcast live on MTV in more than 150 countries from the Paris Nord Villepinte location.
In addition to David Guetta, the South Korean Jung Kook, figure of the group BTS and megastar of K-pop, was also scheduled to perform live during the ceremony. Just like the Nigerian Rema, Afro-beat sensation, or the Puerto Rican Ozuna, who took part in the hit “Taki Taki” (by DJ Snake and the Americans Selena Gomez and Cardi B).
Many artists have condemned the attack on Israel by the Islamist movement Hamas on October 7th and the spiral of war that has continued since then, and have raised unanimous calls for peace on social networks.
Bono, the leader of the Irish group U2, changed the lyrics to his song “Pride (In the Name of Love)” and called for prayers for peace and the young victims of the Supernova music festival in Israel, where several hundred people were killed injured.
Pop icon Madonna also called for prayers “for Israel,” “for peace,” and “for the world,” emphasizing that “conflicts can never be resolved with violence.” “Unfortunately, humanity does not understand and has never understood this universal truth. We live in a world plagued by hate,” she added.
According to Israeli authorities, more than 1,400 people were killed on Israeli territory by Hamas men, most of them civilians who were shot, burned alive or died by mutilation on the first day of the attack. The number of hostages was revised upwards to 203 people on Thursday.
On the Palestinian side, more than 3,700 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in the Israeli army’s incessant bombings in the Gaza Strip, home to 2.4 million people, according to a recent report by local authorities.