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Olympics-Pro-Palestinian rapper Ghali's role at opening ceremony raises flap in Italy
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on January 28, 2026
2 min readLast updated: January 28, 2026
Home > Headlines > Olympics-Pro-Palestinian rapper Ghali's role at opening ceremony raises flap in Italy
Quick Summary
Italian rapper Ghali's role in the Winter Olympics opening ceremony has sparked controversy due to his past comments on Israel, drawing criticism from Italian politicians.
Controversy Arises Over Ghali's Role in Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony
Ghali's Controversial Participation in the Olympics
MILAN, Jan 28 (Reuters) - The inclusion of Italian rapper Ghali in the cast of performers at the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics has sparked a row in Italy because of his past genocide allegations against Israel over its war in Gaza.
Political Reactions to Ghali's Inclusion
Members of Italy's right-wing League party, part of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government, have criticised the choice of Ghali, a high-profile figure who was born in Milan to Tunisian parents, to perform at the event in the San Siro stadium on February 6.
Public and Media Response
Ghali was at the centre of a political spat two years ago during the popular Sanremo song contest when he called for a "stop to the genocide" in reference to Israel's military campaign in Gaza.
Comparisons to Other Artists
Israel has denied committing genocide in the enclave, where a fragile ceasefire with Palestinian Hamas militants took hold in October after two years of devastating war.
A League source called Ghali a "pro-Palestinian fanatic" who hated Israel and the centre-right in comments to the Italian media.
Sports Minister Andrea Abodi said he did not expect Ghali to use the Olympic stage to make a political point.
"I am not embarrassed to disagree with Ghali's views and the messages he has sent, but I believe that a country must be able to absorb the impact of an artist who has expressed an opinion that we do not share, which will not be expressed on that stage," he said.
Ghali, who has not commented on the row, is likely to appeal to a younger audience more than other performers at the opening ceremony who will include tenor Andrea Bocelli and U.S. pop singer Mariah Carey.
Franco-Malian pop star Aya Nakamura was the target of racist abuse online when it emerged that she would sing at the opening of the Summer Olympics in Paris in 2024.
(Reporting by Gianluca Semeraro and Angelo Amante; writing by Keith Weir; editing by Mark Heinrich)
Key Takeaways
- •Ghali's participation in the Winter Olympics opening ceremony is controversial.
- •Italian right-wing politicians criticize Ghali's inclusion.
- •Ghali previously made allegations against Israel regarding Gaza.
- •The controversy highlights political tensions in Italy.
- •Ghali's performance is expected to attract a younger audience.
Frequently Asked Questions about Olympics-Pro-Palestinian rapper Ghali's role at opening ceremony raises flap in Italy
1What is the main topic?
The controversy surrounding Italian rapper Ghali's participation in the Winter Olympics opening ceremony.
2Why is Ghali's participation controversial?
Ghali's past allegations against Israel have drawn criticism from Italian politicians.
3Who are some other performers at the ceremony?
Other performers include Andrea Bocelli and Mariah Carey.
