Tyrone Lebon
Dua Lipa has learned that with great influence comes great backlash. The singer, who has nearly 100 million followers across Instagram and X, revealed in an interview with Radio Times this week that she is fully aware that her public opinions on some of today's most controversial topics may rile up some people, but she's determined to share her thoughts anyway.
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The key, she says, is to be thoughtful and do your research first: “Whenever I talk about anything political, I double- and triple-check with myself to say, 'This is something much bigger than me, and this is necessary, and this is the only reason I'm posting this,'” she says. “That's the only comfort I have in doing so.”
In May, Dua joined calls for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Israel's war with Hamas, sharing an “Artists for Ceasefire” graphic and the hashtag “#AllEyesOnRafah” on her Instagram, referring to Israel's long-planned attacks on cities in the southern Gaza Strip amid the country's devastating war with the militant group.
“It's a big decision because you always face backlash and other people's opinions,” Dua said of her decision to speak out. “I'm trying to strike a balance because ultimately I feel like it's for the public. So I [take that hit]. “
While many musicians are cautious when it comes to speaking out on controversial topics, Dua said speaking out was “a natural inclination for me, given my background and heritage, and it's not something that feels close to me because my very existence is somewhat political.” The singer was born in London to Kosovar Albanian parents, and moved to Pristina, Kosovo, at the age of 13, almost a decade after the country's brutal armed conflict ended.
Dua will headline this year's Glastonbury Festival in Somerset, England next week, alongside Coldplay, SZA and Shania Twain.
