'American Express cuts funding for Roger Waters tour after anti-Israel statements'
American Express spoke of the tour stating that though they sponsored the Desert Trip they had "never committed to sponsoring Roger Waters' upcoming tour."
By JPOST.COM STAFFUpdated: NOVEMBER 1, 2016 11:01Roger Waters performs at Desert Trip music festival at Empire Polo Club in Indio, California U.S., October 9, 2016(photo credit: REUTERS)
Former Pink Floyd artist and avid anti-Israel protestor Roger Waters is facing backlash for his Israel views as American Express cut funding for his tour, according to Page Six.An American Express source that spoke to Page Six stated, “Roger is putting on a huge show. The company was asked to sponsor his tour for $4 million, but pulled out because it did not want to be part of his anti-Israel rhetoric.”At the Desert Trip festival earlier in October, which was sponsored by American Express, Waters took stabs at Donald Trump before voicing his support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement."I'm going to send out all my most heartfelt love and support to all those young people on the campuses of the universities of California who are standing up for their brothers and sisters in Palestine, and supporting the BDS movement in the hope that we may encourage the government of Israel to end the occupation," Waters told the crowd.American Express spoke of the tour stating that though they sponsored the Desert Trip they had "never committed to sponsoring Roger Waters' upcoming tour.""When we were approached with the options, we passed on making a bid."American Express also stated that they try to balance artists that AmEx card members love, while still working in their budget.In February, Water's told a British newspaper that many musicians are afraid to call out Israel over it's policies in relation to Palestinians as they see the backlash he has absorbed since supporting the BDS movement.“The only response to BDS is that it is anti-Semitic,” Waters told the newspaper. “I know this because I have been accused of being a Nazi and an anti-Semite for the past 10 years."