The Capitol dumps Tony Effe but is in turn dumped by Mahmood and Mara Sattei, and now the capital’s New Year’s Eve stage is empty. During the afternoon, the other two artists called to animate New Year’s Eve at the Circus Maximus also withdrew to protest against their colleague’s exclusion.
The first is the artist of Egyptian origin: “I was hoping – the author of ‘Soldi’ and ‘Tuta Gold’ writes on social media – to read different news compared to the exclusion of Tony Effe. I believe it is a form of censorship for which I decide not to participate.” A few hours later Sattei is the one who calls himself out: “I too will not take part in the event – the message on Instagram – I do not find it correct to prevent an artist from performing, depriving him of his freedom of expression”. But Gualtieri rejects the accusations of censorship: “Rome is and remains an open and free city, we will always defend the plurality of ideas and we do not impose or control opinions”. Rather, says the mayor, “some sensitivities have been offended about fundamental values such as women’s freedom and the fight against all forms of violence against them: the New Year’s Concert only makes sense if it is a celebration that unites and does not divide the city “.
A concert, however, which now, at present, does not exist: three out of three artists out, and now for the mayor and for the councilor for Major Events Alessandro Onorato the situation is becoming more complicated because if until yesterday only one big name had to be replaced, now the entire billboard blew up. We are therefore working towards a solution, which is not easy just a few days before New Year’s Eve, and hypotheses are pouring in: a DJ set, or perhaps a foreign artist because in the meantime the official position of Fimi, the federation of Italian record companies, has also arrived. Which sounds like a ‘non expedit’: “We are always and will always be on the side of the artists and against these forms of censorship. Freedom of expression is non-negotiable.”
And in fact the Romans Giorgia and Noemi express themselves pro-Tony while another radio darling, Emma Marrone, sends the rapper “a hug”: “He’s not a bad person – says the singer – and he hasn’t hurt anyone. A bad gesture towards all Music and art in general, a form of violent censorship.” Gaia, Effe’s partner in the summer hit ‘Sesso e Samba’, states: “Censorship: a space where freedom and truth are muzzled and the lie of power creates its dictionary”.
The story so far: last December 12th Gualtieri and Onorato personally announced the cast of the New Year’s concert in Campidoglio, with Mahmood, Mara Sattei and Tony Effe, idols of the charts and kids, performing. But already the following day, more voices raise the objection that the trapper, recently the protagonist of a peppery dissing with Fedez, is not an appropriate name: his lyrics (consistent with trap styles) are pointed out as misogynistic, violent and sexist. The controversy escalates, and the mayor then asks the artist to take a step back: “He cannot be the face of Rome, with public resources. Not for censorship but for opportunity – he explains – because it would be divisive, while the New Year’s concert must unite” .
Tony, who is also among the big names in Sanremo, remains silent. However, his managers do not do so, speaking of “damage to his image and career”. Even the organizers of the concert express “deep amazement and regret”. Mahmood and Sattei’s move this afternoon. Meanwhile, tomorrow morning the presentation of the two ‘Capodarte’ concerts was scheduled in the Campidoglio, organized in the suburbs for New Year’s Day by the Department of Culture, with the singer-songwriter Giancane and the rapper Rancore. Press conference canceled and postponed to a later date, and there are those who suspect that there may be a relationship between the two events. In the meantime, the opposition is raging, as happened at the time of another political-Christmas controversy in Roman style, the one about the unfortunate ‘Spelacchio’ fir tree. Fi speaks of “a short circuit of those who think right”. FdI’s comment is more ironic, suggesting that “Gualtieri pick up the guitar and sing some pieces from his varied repertoire”.
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