Shortly after being announced as one of the headline performers for the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Italy next February, Italian rapper Ghali has become the target of a fierce campaign by the Italian right opposing his inclusion and accusing him of being a “pro-Palestinian fanatic.”
The backlash stems from Ghali’s stance in support of the Palestinian people during what the UN and several other international organizations have described as a genocide committed by Israel in Gaza, including his widely reported calls to “stop the genocide” during his appearance at the Sanremo Music Festival in 2024.
The 32-year-old rapper has become a fixture in the Italian rap scene since the mid-2010s, releasing a string of viral hits and acclaimed albums that contributed to shaping the sound of Italian rap over the past decade. His lyrics have often touched on political issues, from criticizing right-wing politics in Italy to empathy with illegal immigrants from his home country, Tunisia.
Dubbed Milano Cortina 2026, the Olympics are set to open with a ceremony at Milan’s San Siro stadium on February 6, where Ghali will share the stage with five-time Grammy Award winner Mariah Carey, Golden Globe winner Laura Pausini, and famed Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, among others.
