Pulp Confirms Adelaide Festival Gig After Boycott Lifted

British band Pulp has confirmed it will perform at the Adelaide Festival's free opening concert on February 27, despite initially planning to withdraw in solidarity with writer Randa Abdel-Fattah, who was removed from the event's Writers' Week program last week.

The controversy erupted when the Adelaide Festival Corporation disinvited Abdel-Fattah, an Australian sociologist, lawyer, and author known for her advocacy on Palestinian human rights and explorations of Muslim experiences in Australia. Officials cited her commentary on Israel and Zionism as the reason for the decision, which prompted more than 180 writers, including British author Zadie Smith and Australian novelist Trent Dalton, to withdraw from Writers' Week in protest. The backlash led to the program's cancellation, with other festival events set to continue.

In response, the festival's board chair and members resigned earlier this week, followed by Writers' Week director Louise Adler. A new board was appointed and issued an apology to Abdel-Fattah on Thursday, which she accepted. The board also extended an invitation for her to participate in next year's event. Festival executive director Julian Hobba told ABC...