Singer Rosalía Fires Back At 'Shaming' Over Her Silence On Palestine: 'The Finger Should Be Pointed Upwards'

Rosalía will not be shouldering the blame for not being an activist as people expect.

The Spanish pop star came under fire for not speaking up about the Palestine war. However, she has clapped back at critics, saying shame is not the answer.

The "Brillo" singer was publicly called out by popular fashion designer Miguel Adrover, who slammed her for not using her voice to condemn the war. 

Before facing public backlash, Rosalía recently snagged a major ambassadorship deal with popular footwear brand New Balance. 

Adrover recently declined a request to create a custom dress for Rosalía, citing his reason as her silence over the ongoing crisis in Palestine. 

The 32-year-old artist wasted no time in setting the record straight about where she stands. She posted a lengthy write-up on her Instagram story on Wednesday, saying that her silence does signify acceptance of the situation.

As reported and translated by Billboard, Rosalía wrote, “I have followed with great sadness what has been said in recent days […] The fact that I have not used my platform in line with other people’s style or expectations does not mean that I do not condemn what is happening in Palestine.” 

The “Malamente” singer further protested against the crisis, condemning the loss of innocent lives before addressing the criticism she faced. She argued that the blame should go to people in power who actually have a say in the matter. In her words:

“I do not see how shaming each other is the best way to move forward in the fight for Palestinian freedom. The finger should be pointed upwards (towards those who make decisions and have the power to act) and not horizontally (between us).” 

She then concluded by appreciating journalists, volunteers, and everyone who has contributed to the greater good. 

Rosalía’s post comes days after Adrover explained why he cut ties with the singer. In a now-deleted Instagram post, the designer wrote:

“Doing ‘The Right Thing’… Silence is complicity, and even more so when you have a big loudspeaker where millions of people listen to you when you sing. That’s why you have the responsibility to use this power to denounce this genocide.”

The designer explained that while he doesn’t work with artists who don’t publicly support Palestine, his actions were not a direct attack on the singer. 

“Rosalía, this is nothing personal. I admire you for all your talent and for everything you’ve achieved […] Now we have to do ‘The Right Thing,’” the statement read.

Adrover also attached screenshots of his correspondence with Rosalía’s representatives, which showed that he had indeed declined a request to create a dress for her. 

Before facing public outrage over the humanitarian crisis, the “Pienso en tu mirá” singer secured a big win. As reported by WWD, she was named the newest face of New Balance earlier this month.

The brand announced Rosalía as its newest ambassador through a campaign that featured the singer wearing its latest release, the “204L Lifestyle” sneakers. 

When speaking on the partnership, the Spanish superstar expressed enthusiasm over joining the brand.

She said, "My love for fashion and design has only grown over the years. I’ve always been a fan of New Balance, and that’s why working with the brand is especially exciting for me."

Public criticism aside, all seems to be going well for Rosalía in her love life. Just last month, she was spotted enjoying a romantic holiday with her new love interest, Emilio Sakraya, in Barcelona.

Hola! confirmed that the duo affectionately held hands as they walked through Catalonia’s capital. They visited a cafe in El Born, danced to music from a street musician, and didn’t hold back on showing public displays of affection towards each other. 

Sakraya, who is a German actor and musician, is widely known for his role in several notable German screenplays. He and the Spanish singer were spotted in Beverly Hills about three months ago.

However, it was unclear if they were in a romantic relationship at the time, as there was no PDA.  

Although the Latin Grammy Award winner is currently in a good place in her love life, she has had a rocky history with previous romantic partners. 

Just two years ago, she called it quits with her then-boyfriend and fiancé, Rauw Alejandro. As reported by The Blast in 2023, the duo mutually decided to end their engagement after four years of being together.  

Their relationship, which began in 2019, was often filled with PDA and public tributes directed towards each other. They even both had tattoos dedicated to each other. However, their relationship ended barely four months after their engagement.