Charlotte Church has announced that she is boycotting the Hay Festival this weekend because of the "continuing sponsorship" by an asset manager she says has links to what she describes as the "Israeli occupation" of Gaza. The singer was due to attend the festival on Saturday, May 25 to talk with theatre producer Mary Loudon about her campaigning and her passion for wellness. Charlotte has been a vocal protester in recent months and has been at the forefront of several pro-Palestine marches to “show solidarity with the people of Palestine for all that they are suffering through”.
READ MORE: Kebab shop horror as takeaway leaves 50 people ill and 11 in hospital READ MORE: Charlotte Church says ‘it was heartbreaking’ as she shares cousin’s health ordeal Speaking to the PA news agency at a protest in London in March, she said: “I am here today to call for an immediate ceasefire, to ask our Government and governments all over the world to send as strong message as we possibly can. But a strong, a peaceful a loving message, that’s what every single march that I’ve been on for Palestine has been about." On Thursday night, she announced: "I’m scheduled in to talk at the Hay Festival with the brilliant Mary Loudon this weekend.
However, due to the continuing sponsorship of the festival by asset manager Baillie Gifford, I will be boycotting and not attending." She also attached a long statement saying : "I will be boycotting and not attending in solidarity with the peo.