During her performance at the Sydney Biennale, DJ Haram criticized civilian deaths in Gaza, dedicated her set to pro-Palestinian activists, and condemned what she called 'global complicity' in an ongoing 'genocide' against Gaza. She chanted 'from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free' and said 'long live the resistance' and 'glory to all our martyrs,' and described it as a duty to oppose the 'vile Zio-Australian-Epstein empire.' NSW Police confirmed it would investigate any potential breach of anti-hate speech laws related to her performance.
Reactions to the incident have been swift. The New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies reported DJ Haram's speech to police on March 17, urging an investigation into her allegedly antisemitic comments. NSW Premier Chris Minns described DJ Haram's words as 'horrid rhetoric' and 'distressing,' but ruled out cutting state government funding for the Biennale. Consulting firm PwC Australia withdrew its sponsorship from the Sydney Biennale following DJ Haram's remarks. The Biennale of Sydney is conducting a review into DJ Haram's statements made at the event.
Getting into a cycle where we threaten to pull arts and cultural funding has the perversely opposite view, opposite effect.
In the aftermath, DJ Haram left Australia after performing in Melbourne on Saturday following the Sydney event. She is set to perform in the UK this month at Phonox in London and Supersonic Festival in May.
Broader context includes the Biennale of Sydney's funding, with reports indicating it received $3.197 million in government funding in 2024, with over 50% of its funding from government grants. In an unrelated development, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood banned rapper Kanye West from entering Britain to perform at Wireless Festival in July on grounds his presence would 'not be conducive to the public good.'
We expect cultural and arts institutions to use taxpayer funds to represent every member of our community and not be a platform for hate.
The Biennale has a zero-tolerance policy for anti semitism, Islamophobia, racism, or any form of hate speech.