Spain’s global pop powerhouse Rosalía has spoken out for the first time on the war in Palestine, issuing a personal and emotional statement after acclaimed Mallorcan designer Miguel Adrover publicly severed ties with her for what he called her “silence” on the issue.
The move by Adrover sent shockwaves through Spain’s artistic community and the wider cultural world, reviving tensions over how celebrities use or fail to use their platforms in times of geopolitical crisis.
A Custom Look Denied and a Relationship Imploded
The controversy erupted when Miguel Adrover, a politically vocal designer with roots in anti-capitalist fashion activism, shared screenshots on social media of an email exchange between his team and Rosalía’s representatives. The emails showed that Rosalía’s team had reached out to request a custom outfit for an upcoming appearance this fall.
The response was curt and unmistakable:
“I’m sorry but Miguel doesn’t work with any artist who doesn’t publicly support Palestina.”
In his Instagram caption, Adrover did not mince words. “Silence is complicity,” he wrote, adding, “especially when you have a big loudspeaker where millions of people listen to you when you sing.”
Adrover clarified the decision was “nothing personal” and praised Rosalía’s talent and success. However, he insisted the singer has a “responsibility” to speak out against what he called a “genocide.”
He ended his post with a piercing call to action
“Do the right thing. MOTOMAMI ❤️”
“It Will Be Incomplete and Imperfect, But It Is My Truth”
Faced with mounting criticism and pressure, Rosalía broke her silence via a statement on her Instagram story, written in Spanish, where she attempted to clarify her position and express solidarity with the Palestinian people.
“He seguido con gran tristeza lo que se ha venido diciendo estos días. Desde ya acepto que lo que escribiré aquí será incompleto e imperfecto pero es mi verdad y está escrito con la mejor intención.”
Translation
“I’ve followed with great sadness what has been said these past few days. I already accept that what I write here will be incomplete and imperfect, but it is my truth, and it is written with the best intentions.”
Rosalía went on to say that her lack of public statements did not reflect indifference or acceptance of ongoing atrocities:
“El hecho de no haber usado mi plataforma de forma alineada con el estilo o expectativas ajenas no significa en absoluto que no condene lo que está pasando en Palestina.”
Translation
“The fact that I haven’t used my platform in a way aligned with others’ style or expectations does not mean that I do not condemn what is happening in Palestine.”
She added:
“Es terrible ver día tras día como personas inocentes son asesinadas y que los que deberían parar esto no lo hagan.”
Translation
“It’s terrible to see, day after day, how innocent people are being killed and those who should stop this are doing nothing.”
Rosalía concluded by criticizing what she described as intra-community shaming, suggesting energy should be directed toward those in power:
“No veo como avergonzarnos los unos a los otros sea la mejor manera de seguir adelante en la lucha por la libertad de Palestina. Creo que el señalamiento debería direccionarse hacia arriba (hacia quienes deciden y tienen poder de acción) y no en horizontal (entre nosotrxs).”
Translation
“I don’t see how shaming one another is the best way to continue the fight for Palestinian freedom. I believe that the blame should be directed upward (towards those who make decisions and hold power), not horizontally (among ourselves).”
Adrover’s Retort: “What Would Her Fans Do If It Were Rosalía?”
Adrover, who first rose to prominence in the early 2000s for deconstructing luxury fashion and inserting political commentary into runway shows, doubled down after Rosalía’s statement. In a follow-up comment on the same Instagram post, he invoked a chilling hypothetical:
“What would Rosalía’s fans do if she were humiliated, deprived of food, bombed in her house, and her family murdered? Would they do the right thing? I think so.”
The implication was stark: Would her silence still be accepted if the suffering were hers to bear?
