Greek pop star Despina Vandi faced nationalist backlash after refusing to perform on a stage in Turkey covered with the national flag and a portrait of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the country’s “founding father”, on Wednesday. Vandi, who is currently on a tour celebrating her 30-year music career, was due to perform at a charity concert in Çeşme, a resort town west of İzmir, in aid of the Turkish Education Foundation.
However, she pulled out after authorities refused to remove the flag and portrait of Atatürk from the stage. Her Instagram post explaining her decision received numerous nationalist responses from Turkish followers, showing strong support for Atatürk and criticising her stance.
The mayor of Çeşme, Lal Denizli, took to the stage to address the audience following Vandi’s refusal to perform. Denizli made a statement, declaring: “No power can try to remove our flag or Atatürk’s poster in our country, in a city where I am the mayor. The lady should leave the borders of this city immediately.” Following this incident, spectators stayed to watch the choir, which was originally scheduled to perform alongside Vandi, and joined in singing the nationalist İzmir March.
Vandi addressed the issue on Instagram, expressing her respect for the audience but criticising the organisers, the Turkish Education Foundation, for turning the event into an “unacceptable and unagreed upon political display”. She explained: “With absolute respect for the audience who would have honoured me with their presence at my concert scheduled for today, I announce that due to the actions of the Turkish Education Foundation, who decided to alter the nature of the event by giving it an unacceptable and unagreed upon political approach, I cannot participate.”
