Ex-Pink Floyd partner brands Roger Waters antisemitic, lip-synching Putin apologist
David Gilmour endorses tweet by his wife excoriating former bandmate for recent interview in which he defended Russia and reiterated comparison of Israel to Nazi Germany
Pink Floyd star David Gilmour and his wife Polly Samson on Tuesday stepped up a long-running feud with former bandmate Roger Waters with a scathing attack on Twitter.
Samson, an acclaimed novelist, tweeted at Rogers: “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.”
Gilmour then shared her tweet, adding “Every word demonstrably true.”
The post apparently was in response to an interview in which Waters, long known for his anti-Israel activism, expressed support for Russian President Vladimir Putin, said it was “really sad” his former bandmates had recorded a song in support of Ukraine, and reiterated his comparisons of Israel to Nazi Germany.
“The Israelis are committing genocide,” claimed Waters.
He released a statement later Tuesday saying he is “aware of the incendiary and wildly inaccurate comments” posted by Samson and is looking at taking legal action.
Every word demonstrably true https://t.co/KWk4I3bMTN
— David Gilmour (@davidgilmour) February 6, 2023
Gilmour and Waters have feuded for decades, including prior to the latter’s departure from Pink Floyd in the 1980s.
Over the past year, Waters has defended Russia over its invasion of Ukraine last February, leading to the cancellation of concerts planned for Poland, which has been a leading backer of Kyiv.
Waters is no stranger to controversy, particularly for his blistering criticism of Israel and support for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement.
In 2013, the Anti-Defamation League concluded that Walters held antisemitic views.
The Pink Floyd founder has urged artists to boycott Israel and has equated Jerusalem’s treatment of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza to the treatment of people of color in apartheid South Africa. At his concerts, Walters in the past used a pig-shaped balloon with Jewish symbols, including a Star of David.
