Roger Waters branded ‘antisemitic to your rotten core’ by Floyd guitarist Gilmour’s wife
Polly Samson, the novelist wife of Dave Gilmour, tweets the claim about the ex-Floyd star , which he denies, after Waters tells German newspaper he stood by a comparison of Israel with the Nazis because it was 'committing genocide'
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
The wife of Pink Floyd guitarist Dave Gilmour has accused the band’s co-founder Roger Waters of being “antisemitic to your rotten core”, in a row over his stance on Israel and the Ukraine war.
Polly Samson – who has previously written lyrics for the rock group– was responding to a tweet from Waters which publicised an interview he had given to a German newspaper.
Waters said it had been published “against the backdrop of the outrageous and despicable smear campaign by the Israeli lobby to denounce me as an antisemite, which I am not, never have been and never will be.”
Waters also said he stood by a comparision of Israel with Nazi Germany, because it was “committing genocide.”
In an angry response Samson, 60, whose father is Jewish, tweeted:”Sadly Roger Waters you are antisemitic to you rotten core” adding he was also a “Putin apologist.”
Samson’s full tweet read:”Sadly @rogerwaters you are antisemitic to your rotten core. Also a Putin apologist and a lying, thieving, hypocritical, tax-avoiding, lip-synching,misogynistic, sick-with-envy, megalomaniac. Enough of your nonsense.”
She made the claim in a tweeted viewed by over 500, 000 people online, and then shared by Gilmour himself.
Tellingly, Gilmour was amongst those to like Samson’s tweet.
He tweeted in response to his wife’s post:”Every word demonstrably true.”
Waters responded on his official account saying he was “aware of the incendiary and wildly inaccurate comments made about him on Twitter by Polly Samson which he refutes entirely”, adding: “he is currently taking advice as to his position.”
In Germany politicians and religious leaders have called for Waters forthcoming concerts to be cancelled, citing his comments on Israel and following a backlash regarding his stance on Ukraine.
In an interview with theBerliner Zeitung newspaper he claimed Russia was “provoked” into its invasion of Ukraine.
Waters, 79, said in the interview he was targeted “because I lend my voice to the 75-year-old fight for equal human rights for all my brothers and sisters in Palestine/Israel.”
He added he “of course” stood by a past comparison of the Israeli state to Nazi Germany because “the Israelis are committing genocide”.
Gilmour and Waters have been involved in a bitter feud since 1985, when the later quit the group.
Samson, an acclaimed novelist, has written lyrics for Pink Floyd’s 1994 album The Division Bell and has also been credited on solo tracks by her husband Gilmour.
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