When Pharrell Williams showed up at a Cape Town venue to perform, he was greeted with about 500 protesters who weren’t too thrilled with him. They were against him performing due to his partnership with South African retailer Woolworth’s, who has ties with Israel, the NY Daily News reports.
Pharrell still hit the stage despite the protesters. He was the target of the community’s frustrations because he serves as a style director for the retailer and is also involved in fundraising for education.
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“By working with Woolworths, Pharrell supports Israel, a country that supports the oppression of Palestine, a country that is the new apartheid state,” protester Ashraf Salie told the Daily News.
The protest was arranged by the South African branch of the international Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against Israel movement.