Alicia Keys faced criticism for a recent social media post that some people found insensitive in light of the conflict between Israel and Hamas. In the now-deleted post, the singer and former “The Voice” coach shared a photo of herself in a green jacket and asked, “What would you do if u weren’t afraid of anything???” She added, “Tell me your truth … I’ve had my eyes on paragliding” with side-eye emojis and the hashtag “Monday energy.”
Because Hamas militants had previously utilized paragliders in an attack on Israel, the word “paragliding” was the source of the outrage. The fact that her jacket was green—the color of the Hamas flag—also led some people to believe that she was supporting the group.
Alicia Keys Takes Down and Explains Paragliding Post After Facing Criticism (Credits: Variety)
Later, Alicia Keys addressed the issue on her Instagram stories, making it clear that her post had nothing to do with the tragic deaths of civilians in the fighting. She expressed her regret for the current state of affairs and reaffirmed her commitment to peace.
Guy Oseary, a former manager of Keys and an Israeli-American, supported her on Instagram. He reaffirmed that the message was not antisemitic and made it clear that the word in question was used accidentally and had nothing to do with the current conflict. Oseary highlighted Alicia Keys’ dedication to upholding human rights and her beneficial impact on society through her charitable endeavors.
It’s worth noting that Alicia Keys had previously mentioned her interest in paragliding during a 2021 interview with the radio show “The Breakfast Club.” The controversy surrounding her recent post was related to the timing and choice of words rather than any political stance.
