Regina Spektor interrupted her own concert in Portland on July 26 after pro-Palestine protesters disrupted the show, calling out “Free Palestine” from the audience. The incident took place at Revolution Hall, where the singer paused her set to address the disruption and call for the protestors’ removal.
In fan-recorded video footage, Spektor — who is of Russian-Jewish heritage — responded directly, “You’re just yelling at a Jew. I don’t know what he thinks he’s doing. I really appreciate the security. We had a really hard time last night when I said, ‘Shalom aleichem,’” she said, referencing the Hebrew greeting translating to “peace be upon you.”
The protest came amid intensifying global criticism of Israel’s role in the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. As of July 28, a new UN conference has opened discussions around a two-state solution. Israel continues to reject allegations of genocide and war crimes.
Spektor, known for her support of Israel, has previously criticized pro-Palestinian rhetoric online and called out misinformation shared by fellow artists, including Björk. Earlier this year, she was named in a post by the Zionists In Music Instagram account — a list controversial for the artistes’ alignment with hardline pro-Israel stances.
Back at the Portland venue, when Spektor heard the protestors were exiting, she told the audience, “I thought this was different than the internet. This is real life.”
Tension flared further when one protester said, “I’m watching dying children. That hurts.” Spektor replied, “I think you should go, because this is not the place for that conversation. I’m a real person who came here to play music. If anybody wants to walk out, this is your chance. Does anybody else want to take a walk? You can.”
Some attendees reportedly left the venue at that point.
The singer then opened up about her personal history as an immigrant who fled antisemitism in the Soviet Union.
“The only reason I even speak English is because I came here to escape this shit,” she said. “I came from a country where people were treating Jews as others, and now I’m being ‘othered’ here and it sucks. It’d be nice if, just once, one generation of my family didn’t have to flee and learn a new language — just stay put, live nice lives.”
Spektor later resumed the performance.