Matisyahu, the renowned singer-songwriter, recently had two of his concerts canceled, leading him to believe that these cancellations may have been due to workers making a political statement against Israel. In an interview with TMZ Live, Matisyahu explained that his sold-out show in New Mexico was canceled just hours before it was scheduled to take place. He was informed by a fan who approached him after a sound check at the Meow Wolf venue, stating that they had received an email citing security threats as the reason for the cancellation.
When Matisyahu’s team approached the event organizers, they were informed that the workers were afraid to come to work due to potential protests outside the building. The organizers also claimed that they did not have enough time to hire additional staff for the event. However, despite the cancellation, the protest turned out to be a rather small gathering, with only five people showing up to voice their displeasure, according to Matisyahu.
Unfortunately, this was not an isolated incident, as Matisyahu’s concert in Tucson, Arizona, was also canceled due to employees allegedly calling out. Matisyahu suspects that the workers may have realized that the event would be canceled if they did not show up for work. He believes that social media posts from some of the New Mexico staff indicated their opposition to Israel.
Matisyahu asserts that he does not bring his politics into his performances, although he occasionally makes statements against Hamas. For the most part, he aims to keep political division out of his shows. Despite the attempts to discourage him, Matisyahu remains determined to perform at any venue willing to host him and his group. He even mentioned the possibility of putting on a show at a frat house in Tucson, where his cousin attends school.
The tensions between Israeli and Palestinian supporters have escalated since a surprise attack by Hamas on a music festival on October 7, which resulted in a full-scale war in the region. The cancellation of Matisyahu’s concerts may be seen as part of this ongoing conflict.
In response to the cancellation, a spokesperson for Meow Wolf, the venue where the New Mexico concert was scheduled to take place, stated that they had insufficient staff to safely manage the sold-out crowd. They emphasized that the safety of their employees and guests is their top priority and that they are in the process of refunding all ticket holders.
Matisyahu’s experience highlights the challenges artists face when their work intersects with political tensions. It serves as a reminder that art and music can be powerful tools for both expression and provocation, often leading to unforeseen consequences.
