'All white men to the back': Singer repeats controversial phrase despite death threats

Dutch singer Sophie Straat has once again sparked controversy with her statement "All white men to the back" during a performance at the Gentse Feesten festival in Belgium. This repeated declaration comes after she made similar remarks at the Best Kept Secret festival, which led to death threats and a barrage of online hate.

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There is never time for nuance. We are already too late for that. All white men to the back. It's time for the girls, the queers, and people of color.

Straat explained her intention behind the provocative phrase is to carve out a safe and inclusive space for women, queer individuals, and people of color within the often chaotic environment of a mosh pit. "There is never time for nuance. We are already too late for that. All white men to the back. It's time for the girls, the queers, and people of color," she stated before performing a protest song about war and powerlessness.

The singer, known for her feminist, anti-racist, and left-wing political stance, views this call as integral to her artistic vision. However, her message has drawn significant backlash, particularly after a video of her statement at Best Kept Secret was shared without context, leading to widespread criticism on social media.

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I have received a wave of sexist and antisemitic hate messages and (death) threats, of which one was more explicit and creative than the other. Both online and in letter form, including reports and legal complaints against me, but also against people I work with and against all the venues and festivals where I play this summer.

Straat revealed on social media that she received a wave of "sexist and antisemitic hate messages and (death) threats," some of which were explicit and creative, arriving both online and by mail. She also noted legal complaints filed against her and her collaborators. She expressed deep disappointment at the perceived silence from the public, especially within the music sector and left-leaning media, stating, "I miss public solidarity... As long as the vast majority keeps quiet, this will persist."

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I miss public solidarity, especially in the music industry. Where is the (left-wing) media? Where are the statements from big festivals?

Concluding her Gentse Feesten performance, Straat urged the audience to speak out against injustice, trust their own experiences, and exercise empathy. "Trust your own experience, and if you don't have it, trust your humanity. Come on, are you stupid or something? Put yourself in someone else's shoes. From now on, only love," she urged.

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Trust your own experience, and if you don't have it, trust your humanity. Come on, are you stupid or something? Put yourself in someone else's shoes. From now on, only love.