Robbie Williams Istanbul concert canceled over safety concerns, singer says

ANKARA — British singer Robbie Williams said city authorities called off his upcoming Istanbul concert “in the interests of public safety” after Turkish NGOs and social media users campaigned for the event to be canceled and protested against his appearance.

The Oct. 7 concert was scheduled to take place on the second anniversary of the Hamas attack on southern Israeli communities that led to Israel’s military offensive in Gaza.

For days, Turkish social media accounts and pro-Gaza NGOs had been calling for the event to be scrapped, accusing Mr. Williams of being “Zionist.”

The 51-year-old singer has faced renewed scrutiny in predominantly Muslim Turkey over his family’s Jewish heritage and his 2015 performance in Israel, which drew criticism from pro-Palestinian groups.

Bubilet, the ticketing company, said it had canceled the concert at the request of the Istanbul Governor’s Office. The governor’s office was not immediately available for comment.

Mr. Williams wrote on Instagram late on Saturday that the safety of his fans “comes first,” adding he was deeply sorry for the cancellation, which he said was “beyond our control.” — Reuters