Lorde targeted in full-page ad after cancelling Israel gig

A full-page advertisement in a major US newspaper has called Lorde a "bigot" for cancelling a planned concert in Israel.

The ad was paid for by the World Values Network and published in the December 31 issue of The Washington Post.

"Lorde joined a global anti-Semitic boycott of Israel but will perform in Russia, despite Putin's support for Assad's genocide in Syria," the advert reads.

Lorde cancelled the Tel Aviv gig, scheduled for June, on Christmas Day.

"I've received an overwhelming number of messages and letters and have had a lot of discussions with people holding many views, and I think the right decision at this time is to cancel the show," she said.

"I'm not too proud to admit I didn't make the right call on this one. I'm truly sorry to reverse my commitment to come play for you."

Israeli ambassador to New Zealand Itzhak Gerberg accused the 21-year-old 'Green Light' singer of "succumbing to [a] hateful agenda".

A spokeswoman for Lorde said no one had called on her to boycott Russia, where she's scheduled to play two shows at the end of May.

The World Values Network ad also called out New Zealand.

"Last December, New Zealand sponsored a UN resolution which both condemned Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, and even denied Jewish claims to the Western Wall, the area of Judaism's holiest site.

"Syria was, at the time, cluster-bombing Aleppo and murdering hundreds of innocent Arab children."

The ad said New Zealand's "growing prejudice against the Jewish State seems to be trickling down to its youth", and suggested she be more like Radiohead, Sir Paul McCartney, Madonna and Lady Gaga, who have all performed in the country.

However, the New Zealand Jewish Council said the ad isn't helpful.

It said it is disappointed in Lorde's decision to pull out of her concert in Tel Aviv after pressure from activists, but called the World Values Network's approach inflammatory and aggressive, saying it doesn't foster understanding.

"The New Zealand Jewish Council is committed to dialogue and tolerance, and distances itself from the inflammatory and aggressive material that stoops to the level of BDS rather than rising above it."

Lorde on the World Values Network's GoFundMe page.
Lorde on the World Values Network's GoFundMe page. Photo credit: Newshub.

Lorde is also the face of World Values Network's latest fundraising push, featuring at the top of the group's GoFundMe crowdfunding page.

In five days, supporters have contributed US$26,175 - almost all of that from a single donor.

Newshub.