One of Australia's biggest cultural festivals has been left in disarray after a decision to disinvite a prominent Australian-Palestinian writer, triggering a massive backlash, a mass exodus from fellow authors – and the ultimate cancellation of the festival's Writers' Week.

Though the Adelaide Festival's board said they "do not suggest in any way" that Abdel-Fattah had "any connection with the tragedy at Bondi", they made the decision that it would not be "culturally sensitive" to include her "given her past statements".

She called the decision to exclude her a "blatant and shameless act of anti-Palestinian racism and censorship" and the attempt to link her with the Bondi attack "despicable".

In the following days, dozens of other writers scheduled to appear withdrew from the festival, which also features music, dance, theatre and other cultural events.

By Tuesday the list had jumped to 180, including former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, British author Zadie Smith, beloved Australian writer Helen Garner and British-Australian novelist Kathy Lette.

Over the weekend, four members of the eight-member board, including the chair, resigned without detailing their reasons. And on Tuesday the director of the Writers' Week - who had invited Abdel-Fattah - stood down too.

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[–] Tau@aussie.zone 4 points 3 weeks ago (3 children)

Bit rich for her to be going on about censorship and silencing authors if she demanded someone else be excluded previously from the same festival over provocative comments.

[–] hitmyspot@aussie.zone 7 points 3 weeks ago

From my understanding, the other person was not excluded and they were spouting hate speech. Some of her tweets seem to verge on hate speech too, but the other person wasn't verging on it, but leaning into it in a big way. I think it's a bit rich too, but I also think the festival is practicing double standards. They also come across as racist in their rationale. Their apology was a non apology. Sorry you were hurt by our decision and how it was portrayed, rather than making the wrong decision.

[–] Ilandar@lemmy.today 3 points 3 weeks ago

As I understand, in that instance the guest decided not to attend. I think you're focusing on the wrong part of the story if you're trying to determine whether any of the guests were morally in the right/wrong or whether we should feel sorry for them. The problem is that the event is now caving to pressure, which completely kills its premise of being an open space for the discussion and sharing of ideas.

[–] ShrimpCurler@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 3 weeks ago

Yeah, a bit rich from her. But, that doesn't excuse them excluding her.