Zara Larsson Reveals Career Setbacks After Speaking Out for Palestine

Swedish pop star Zara Larsson has opened up about the consequences she faced for speaking out on political issues in her new Amazon Prime Video documentary, Up Close. The film gives viewers a candid look at Larsson’s rise from teenage music sensation to international pop star. She shares the pressures of fame, public scrutiny, and the challenge of balancing her career with her personal beliefs.

One of the most striking revelations in the documentary is that Larsson lost music gigs, award-show appearances, and other deals because she publicly supported Palestine. Around three weeks ago, Larsson confirmed that she had declined an offer to perform at the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö.

Speaking to Swedish broadcaster Sveriges Radio on the program P4 Extra , Gästen, she explained that her decision was based on ethical concerns regarding Israel’s participation.

“It’s a super big stage, over 100 million people watching, but I didn’t feel like I could go on that stage and stand for those who competed, Israel. It didn’t feel right there and then,” Larsson said. She added that she had no regrets about her choice: “I’m not sad I declined and I would do it 100 times over. I didn’t want to do it. It didn’t feel right.”

Her stance was in line with a larger protest movement in Sweden. Over 1,000 Swedish musicians, including the internationally known artist Robyn, signed an open letter published in Aftonbladet calling for Israel’s exclusion from Eurovision. The letter criticized the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) for what the artists described as a “remarkable double standard”, pointing out that Israel was allowed to compete while Russia had been banned in 2022.

The EBU, however, maintained that Eurovision is meant to stay non-political, framing it as a contest between public service broadcasters rather than governments.

Larsson’s documentary sheds light on the challenges artists face when balancing their careers and personal values. By sharing her story, she gives fans a glimpse of the consequences of standing by one’s beliefs in the entertainment industry.

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