Pop icon Rosalía enters a global debate, and not everyone is clapping
Spanish designer Miguel Adrover refuses to work with pop star Rosalía, criticizing her limited public response to the Gaza conflict. The controversy highlights celebrity activism debates.
One of today’s most prominent pop stars, Spanish singer Rosalía, has come under fire from pro-Palestinian Spanish fashion designer Miguel Adrover for not speaking out publicly about the war in Gaza. In a social media post featuring an outfit inspired by Palestinian refugees, Adrover accused the 32-year-old artist of “remaining silent in the face of genocide” and announced that he had refused to design for her because of her silence on the issue.
“Silence is complicity, especially when you have a massive microphone that reaches millions of people,” Adrover wrote on Instagram. “This is why you have the responsibility to use your power to denounce genocide.” While insisting “it’s nothing personal,” he added: “I admire your talent and everything you’ve achieved. I believe you’re more than just another artist focused only on business and entertainment. Now is the time to do the right thing.”
Adrover also posted email exchanges with Rosalía’s team, who had requested a custom look for the singer’s upcoming fourth album. His response: “Sorry, Miguel doesn’t work with artists who haven’t publicly expressed support for Palestine.”
Online reactions to Adrover’s post were mixed. Some users supported the designer, praising him for standing his ground:
“I love Rosalía, but you have every right not to work with her for that reason,” one wrote. Others accused Adrover of exploiting her fame for attention: “What a strategy: using the name of the hottest artist right now just to make headlines. All she and her team wanted was to work with someone they admire.”
Rosalía’s only known public reference to the war in Gaza dates back to an October 19, 2023 Instagram Story, where she shared a humanitarian message: “Hundreds of thousands of children and their families are fleeing northern Gaza. They’re running out of food, water, electricity, medicine, and safe access to hospitals. The situation is catastrophic.” The post was deleted hours later.
In contrast, singer Billie Eilish has more recently posted a video highlighting humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza, thanking those involved, and sharing BBC coverage about the Israeli Defense Minister's alleged plan to relocate 600,000 Gazans to a refugee camp in Rafah.