A concert poster for Mika in Florence, Italy was defaced with homophobic slurs over the weekend and caught the attention of the singer, who posted a photograph of the graffiti to the cover pages of his social media accounts, accompanied by a statement against homophobia.
Said the singer:
“I saw the [gay slurs] on my posters and my instinct was to leave it alone … that the hatred of some people, something I know very well , was best ignored. Break the silence! I’m not afraid of those who discriminate against me—no one should be. Love does what it wants.”
The hashtags #RompiamoIlSilenzio (“Break the silence”) began trending in Italy as social media took up his cause. The Mayor of Florence publicly apologized.
Mika later wrote:
“I was moved by the intensity of the public support and participation against the homophobic slurs. It is testimony to the widespread desire for change and progress. It goes well beyond my face smeared on a poster. It affects everyone. Looking away is a luxury, for there are those who cannot escape the intolerance. I’m impressed and inspired by these events.”
Avete ragione #RompiamoIlSilenzio https://t.co/QcDlQTBIBd
— MIKA (@mikasounds) August 8, 2015
Avevo visto la foto della scritta sui miei manifesti e il mio istinto era di lasciar stare…
— MIKA (@mikasounds) August 8, 2015
..Che l'odio di alcune persone, una cosa che conosco bene, era meglio ignorata. Ma voi avete ragione #rompiamoilsilenzio
— MIKA (@mikasounds) August 8, 2015
non ho paura di chi mi discrimina . Nessuno deve averne. L'amore fa quel che vuole. #rompiamoilsilenzio
— MIKA (@mikasounds) August 8, 2015
La partecipazione e il pubblico sostegno contro la calunnia omofobica che ho denunciato mi hanno commosso per l'intensità inimmaginabile.
— MIKA (@mikasounds) August 11, 2015
…Sono testimonianza del diffuso desiderio di cambiamento e progresso. Tutto ciò va ben oltre me e la mia faccia imbrattata su un poster,
— MIKA (@mikasounds) August 11, 2015
Riguarda tutti. Voltarsi dall'altra parte é un lusso, c'é chi non puó sfuggire all'intolleranza. Sono colpito e ispirato da questi eventi.
— MIKA (@mikasounds) August 11, 2015
The singer released his new single “All She Wants” last Wednesday. Listen to it below.
[h/t Boy Culture]
