Despina Vandi canceled concert in Turkey when it took the wrong ethnical turn with a Turkish flag and Kemal Atatürk's photo on stage. Well done Despina!
Alina Loi
An uproar has been caused by the decision of Despina Vandi, one of Greece's most popular singers, not to sing in Cesme, Turkey, unless they took down the photo of Kemal Atatürk and put the flag of Greece in its place, next to the flag of Turkey that was already hanging on the stage where the concert was to be held.
The popular Greek singer had agreed to sing at a charity event in Cesme, Turkey, on the coast of Izmir, but canceled her presence when she noticed that in the hall, prominently displayed on stage, there was a photo of Kemal Atatürk and a Turkish flag.
With real dignity and morality, Despina Vandi declared that she would not appear unless Kemal's photo was taken down and the Greek flag next to the Turkish flag was placed in its place.
The Turkish audience, who were there, started booing the Greek singer while the mayor of Cesme, Lal Denizli, went on stage and said that Despina Vandi did not go on stage because she wanted the Turkish flag and Atatürk's poster to be taken down and asked the audience not to "boo" her because, as she stated, "He doesn't even think he's the person worth wasting your breath on."
Naturally, social media caught fire after that. In fact, Despina Vandi received numerous hate messages from Turkish users, who did not hesitate to harass even her daughter and her partner, actor Vasilis Bisbikis.
For their part, countless Greek social media users praised Vandi for this decision and even at such a sensitive time as tomorrow, Saturday, July 20, is the "black" anniversary of the 50 years of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus and Turkey is trying in every way to provoke, first of all their President Erdogan. who is preparing an obscenely provocative fiesta in the Occupied Territories.
"With absolute respect to the audience that would honor me with their presence at my concert scheduled for today -17/07/2024- I announce that for reasons of exclusive responsibility of the TURKISH EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION, (which unilaterally decided to alter the character of the event as a concert by giving it a prohibited and unagreed political connection), it is not possible for me to participate in this event", wrote Despina in her Instagram story.
The purpose of the concert was to raise money to give some scholarships. At the moment, under the singer's posts on Instagram there is a storm of comments from Turks urging her never to visit Turkey again.Many reactions have been caused in Turkey by Despina Vandi's decision to cancel her concert in Cesme, as a poster of Kemal Atatürk was posted on stage.
The singer expressed her opposition to this act and in a post on her personal Instagram account explained that the event was ultimately political and decided not to participate in it.
In a new statement to Open, Despina Vandi stressed that "I would never sing in front of a photo of the slayer of Greeks".
Specifically, the singer says according to the channel: "I would never sing in front of a photo of the slaughterer of the Greeks. I asked for his photo to be removed and for a Greek flag to be placed next to the Turkish one in its place."
Watch the related video of her statement:
