Daily London
“We want to make it absolutely clear that Pulp refuse to condone the silencing of voices. We celebrate difference, and oppose censorship, violence and oppression in all its forms,” the band said in a statement.
Abdel-Fattah’s axing led to Pulp and other acts cancelling their appearance, an exodus of 180 writers, including former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern and Booker Prize-shortlisted British author Zadie Smith, and the Adelaide Writers’ Week director, and the former board chair and three board members resigning.
The fallout led to next month’s event being scrapped entirely.
“It is our understanding that the festival programmers are now acting in good faith,” the band said.
“The festival board that made this dreadful decision have been replaced, and a full apology has been accepted by Randa Abdel-Fattah, who has been invited to appear next year.
“Given this new and welcome development we feel able, in good conscience, to honour our invitation to perform in Adelaide on 27 February.
“We hope that our free concert will be an opportunity for different communities to come together in peace and harmony.”
The Adelaide Writers’ Week is a world-renowned event that draws in dozens of local and international writers and more than 160,000 attendees each year.
The new board accepted that it had “fell well short” of upholding intellectual and artistic freedom and said it would honour the “powerful human right” moving forward.
The new chair and members are now left to pick up the pieces to restore public trust and repair reputational damage.
Abdel-Fattah has accepted the board’s apology and said she would consider its invitation to speak at next year’s event.
“Whilst AF’s statement acknowledges the harm done, it is not a quick fix to repair the damage and injury inflicted,” she said.
