Pink says her nickname at school was ‘kike dyke,’ in Hanukkah clip with Noa Tishby
Jewish pop star lights first night's candles with activist, says her mother was threatened due to her Jewishness and her address was leaked to the public
American-Jewish pop star Pink recounted being nicknamed “kike dyke” in elementary school, while lighting the first Hanukkah candle with actress and activist Noa Tishby on Sunday.
Repeating a series she created last year, Tishby plans to light the Hanukkah candles each night of the festival with a notable Jewish person, beginning with the singer, whose birth name is Alecia Beth Moore.
Asked by Tishby if she thinks it is a “bit more of a burden” to be Jewish currently, Pink replied: “Absolutely. I think it’s very misunderstood.”
“To be real, the very first nickname I was given in third grade was ‘kike dyke,’ and that was because I was a Jewish girl who was a tomboy and a strong girl,” Pink said in the video, using slurs that refer to Jews and to lesbians. “Even in third grade, I’ve been dealing with it all of my life.”
She also recalled her mother’s personal details being shared publicly because of her Jewishness when she became famous over two decades ago.
“When I first became famous, my mom’s address was put online, and they said she’s a kike, go kill her. And this was 25 years ago. And she called me crying, and I was like, Mom, I’m so sorry,” the singer recounted.
“And she was like, honey, I’m just so sorry that they know you’re Jewish. And at that moment, I felt so sad, like just in my body, just so sad. And I was like, Mom, I’m very proud of who I am and what I am,” Pink said.
“The only way to fight against it is to stand tall in who we are, no matter who you are,” Tishby replied.
Last year, Tishby lit candles with notable Jewish celebrities including Tiffany Haddish, Mila Kunis and Mayim Bialik.