NSW Police Investigate Sydney Biennale Performer For Possible Racial Hatred Comments

New South Wales Police are looking into whether comments made by an international performer at the opening night event of the Biennale of Sydney have breached racial hate laws.

In a video uploaded to social media, US DJ and music producer, Zubeyda Muzeyyen, who performs under the name DJ Haram, can be heard telling crowds at White Bay Power Station to “oppose the Zio-Australian-Epstein empire” before leading them in a chant of “long live the resistance” and “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”.

Critics say the linking of Israel to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein feeds into persistent antisemitic troupes, with president of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, David Ossip saying the reference was “capable of inciting hatred, serious contempt or severe ridicule” towards Jewish Australians.

“The statement appears to promote a conspiratorial narrative suggesting malign influence by Jewish Australians,” he wrote in a letter referring the comments to NSW Police.

“The reference to Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted child abuser, compounds this insinuation by implicitly associating Jewish Australians with criminality and abuse.”

Speaking to ABC Radio Sydney, NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon confirmed Muzeyyen’s statements were under investigation.

“We’ll review what was said, the context of what was said and line that up against the legislation to determine whether any offences were committed,” he said.

“It’s important to know that hate crimes, hate speech, has a high bar. There’s a reason for that high bar. Obviously free speech is something we value in this country.

“We need to make sure an offence has been committed. If so, we’ll take action.”

Major partner exits relationship with festival

Following the incident, accounting giant PwC announced they would be ending their 24-year-long partnership with the festival, removing their logos and branding from any event material.

“We entered this partnership to support an experience and series of arts and creative culture events which would be welcoming and inclusive for everyone,” the company said in a statement.

“Following comments made by a performer at the opening night event, we no longer have confidence that the festival can meet our expectations.

“We condemn the comments made and reject antisemitism and all forms of hate.”

The Biennale of Sydney said in a statement they were undertaking a review into Muzeyyen’s comments, and would cooperate with police inquiries.

“The Biennale has a zero-tolerance policy for antisemitism, Islamophobia, racism, or any form of hate speech,” festival organisers said.

“The Biennale of Sydney did not commission, approve, or have prior knowledge of the statement made by DJ Haram.

“The views expressed by the artist are entirely her own and do not represent the views of the Biennale of Sydney, our Board, or our government and corporate partners.”

Premier Chris Minns condemned the comments earlier in the week, describing them as as “distressing” and “horrid rhetoric”, but rejected the suggestion that the state government review its multi-million funding of the Biennale.