Big name band speak out on festival controversy

Beloved Britpop band Pulp have broken their silence on the Adelaide Festival saga, giving a statement that reveals the behind the scenes chaos leading up to the event.

The band was at the receiving end of much online backlash this week after it had not withdrawn from the festival in solidarity with axed Palestinian-Australian author Randa Abdel-Fattah.

The headline act took to social media on Friday to slam organisers for the “dreadful decision”, revealing they had sought to quit the festival, but were asked to delay going public by organisers.

“Having informed them that we had decided to withdraw from the festival in support of the boycott, we were asked to delay an announcement while they sought to resolve this crisis for all sides,” the statement read.

“Pulp were appalled to hear of the circumstances in which the Adelaide Festival board had cancelled the scheduled appearance of Randa Abdel-Fattah, and respect those who immediately spoke out against this decision. ⁠”

The revelation is the latest twist in a saga that has engulfed the world-renowned festival which is due to be begin on February 27.

The fallout first began when Dr Abdel-Fattah was dropped from the Writers’ Week line-up last week after organisers decided it would not be “culturally sensitive” to include her in the wake of the Bondi shooting.

The move triggered a mass exodus, with around 180 participating writers quitting the festival in protest of the author’s axing.

Chaos continued on Tuesday when board members and festival director Louise Adler resigned.

Pulp has now confirmed that it will go ahead with its show on the opening night after organisers apologised for Dr Abdel-Fattah’s axing.

“It is our understanding that the festival programmers are now acting in good faith. 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.”

⁠Pulp became the centre of a social media storm when Musicians for Palestine called on its followers to flood Pulp’s Instagram comment section with phrases like “boycott Adelaide Festival” or “Solidarity with Randa”.

“We’re asking @welovepulp to boycott Adelaide Festival in response to their decision to drop Palestinian writer-activist @randaafattah from the Adelaide Writers Week line-up.”

The group, which shot to fame in the 90s, has historically supported the Palestinian cause, signing an open letter demanding a ceasefire in Gaza in 2023.

In a statement by the Adelaide Festival Board, it assured fans that the festival would go ahead in 2026, despite the cancellation of Adelaide Writers’ Week.

“The new Adelaide Festival Board would like to reassure the people of South Australia it is thoroughly committed to the successful delivery of Adelaide Festival 2026.”