Alicia Keys recently found herself at the center of controversy over a social media post that some perceived as insensitive, considering the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
In the now-deleted post, the renowned singer and former “The Voice” coach shared a picture of herself donning a green jacket and asked in the caption, “What would you do if you weren’t afraid of anything???”
She continued by inviting her followers to share their thoughts, humorously mentioning her own desire to try paragliding with the use of side-eye emojis and the hashtag “Monday energy.”
This post drew criticism, with some linking her mention of “paragliding” to the fact that Hamas terrorists had used paragliders in an attack on Israel on October 7.
Additionally, there were accusations that her choice of wearing green – the color of the Hamas flag – was a sign of support for the organization.
Alicia Keys responded to the backlash by taking to her Instagram stories on Monday, clarifying that her original post was entirely unrelated to the recent tragic loss of innocent lives in the conflict. She expressed deep sadness over the situation and emphasized her prayers for peace.
Guy Oseary, an Israeli-American and Keys’ former manager, came to her defense on Instagram, refuting claims of antisemitism and confirming that her post was not connected to the ongoing conflict.
He explained that there was a specific word in the post that some found triggering, but it was unintentional, and Keys immediately removed the post upon learning of its implications.
Oseary praised Alicia Keys for her unwavering commitment to human rights and humanitarian work, highlighting her positive influence in the world and empathetic heart.
“There was a specific word in her post that our community at this very painful time find very triggering, but it was absolutely not connected in any way.
“I spoke to Alicia and she was horrified to learn what the word implied and immediately took it down.
Alicia has always been a fighter for all human rights. I’ve had a front-row seat for over a decade of seeing her positive influence in the world. Her humanitarian work reflects her empathy and her heart,” Oseary posted.
It’s worth noting that Keys had previously mentioned her interest in paragliding during a 2021 interview on “The Breakfast Club.”
