French Jewish DJ Barbara Butch defiant after concert disrupted by pro-Palestinian protesters

French Jewish DJ Barbara Butch is striking a defiant tone after pro-Palestinian activists disrupted her concert in Grenoble, France, vowing not to be cowed from performing. Butch, who gained prominence after appearing at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, had to be escorted off stage at the Cabaret Frappé festival barely 20 minutes into her set.

The City of Grenoble filed a complaint against "persons unknown" following the incident, with Mayor Laurence Ruffin citing evidence of violence and sabotage of electrical equipment. Ruffin rejected arguments that the protest was peaceful, stating that while Grenoble supports the Palestinian people, demonstrations must be peaceful and democratic.

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There were actions that are unacceptable.

According to Butch, protesters shouted insults and threw objects, including glass bottles that shattered near her DJ console. In a video statement, she described the attack as "the next stage in a campaign" to exclude her from artistic and public life for months. She added that legal complaints had been prepared and vowed, "I will return to the stage."

The attack followed calls from pro-Palestinian activists to boycott or cancel her appearance, citing her support for legislation viewed as pro-Israel and her travel to Tel Aviv. Allan Brunson, the Grenoble chair of the far-left party France Unbowed, was identified as a leader of the effort. After politicians called for him to be sanctioned, Brunon tweeted ahead of the concert about activists organizing against Butch's arrival. Following the disruption, he posted a video of pro-Palestinian activists rallying in Grenoble and indicated he would target the city's formal relationship with the Israeli city of Rehovot.

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I will return to the stage.