Grammy and Oscar-winning musician John Legend, one of the most prominent supporters and donors of the Democratic Party in the United States, called on Vice President Kamala Harris, who is the Democrativ Party candidate for president, to condition U.S. aid to Israel because of "its ongoing attacks in Gaza and Lebanon." According to him, the U.S. must use its military and financial aid as "leverage over Israel."
“I don’t think we should be writing blank checks to any country that we are allied with, and that any kind of assistance we provide, any kind of weapons we send, should come with conditions,” Legend said. “And I think that’s a very sensible way to conduct foreign policy. We do it just about everywhere else. So let’s do it there, too.”
Legend also attacked Israel for killing what he said are innocent people. “It also makes me very frustrated how easily we dehumanize certain people based on where they live, the color of their skin, their religion, whether or not they’re allies with our country. No matter what political disagreements and political animus and anger we have at Hamas and the leadership in Gaza, those kids are innocent,” he said.
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John legend attacked Israel for killing what he said are innocent people
(Photo: Nicky J Sims/Getty Images For Bauer Media)
He also criticized the politicization he said surrounding the ongoing war and the "cancel culture" that has prevented other celebrities from speaking out. "They’ve seen people get punished for it. You know, they’ve seen people lose their agent or lose jobs from it. And I think some people are afraid of that possibility. They’re afraid they’ll suffer professional consequences," he said.
“I’m not afraid,” he added. “I believe in what I’m saying.”
Legend, 45, belongs to the small group of people who have achieved EGOT status - winning Oscars, Tonys, Golden Globes and Emmys. He is married to model and TV presenter Chrissy Teigen, and they have four children.
In the past, Legend has spoken out several times against the Israeli policy toward the Palestinians. In 2021, in an interview, he criticized the "unfair" way in which the Palestinians are forced to live, and called on the United States to demand higher standards from Israel when it comes to the treatment of Palestinians, due to the fact that Israel "is considered one of our strongest allies, given the amount of aid they receive from us. What the Israeli occupation is doing to the Palestinians is not fair, and it is not appropriate that it be done in our name and with our resources," he said at the time.
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