Barbara Butch Concert Canceled in Amiens Amid Boycott Calls

The concert of DJ Barbara Butch, scheduled for September 19 in Amiens as part of the inauguration week for the new La Lune des Pirates venue, has been canceled. The venue stated that the decision was made after reviewing the context surrounding the event and determining that public safety conditions were no longer met. Ticket holders will receive automatic refunds. While the venue did not directly link the cancellation to the boycott campaign, it occurred after the Amiens branch of the France Palestine Solidarity Association (AFPS) called for a boycott. The AFPS cited Barbara Butch's support for a proposed law by lawmaker Caroline Yadan aimed at combating new forms of antisemitism. This law, which faced opposition from some on the left citing freedom of expression, has since been withdrawn by the government. Following the cancellation announcement, AFPS Amiens claimed a "victory" on social media, asserting that denouncing what they describe as "genocide" in Gaza or "apartheid" in Israel does not constitute antisemitism. The cancellation has drawn strong reactions from local politicians. Pierre Savreux, vice-president of Amiens Métropole and a local Republican party official, expressed "total indignation" and announced he would boycott the venue's inauguration in response. RN municipal councilor Damien Toumi urged local authorities and the prefecture to intervene to ensure the DJ's performance could proceed. This is not the first incident involving Barbara Butch; in July, a concert in Grenoble was disrupted by pro-Palestinian activists, leading to an investigation for "concerted obstruction of freedoms" and the artist announcing legal action. Barbara Butch has become a frequent target of boycott campaigns recently due to her stances on antisemitism and a planned concert in Israel in 2025.