Frankfurt's attempt to cancel his 2023 concert over antisemitism accusations
In February 2023, the city of Frankfurt and the state of Hesse ordered the Festhalle operator to cancel Roger Waters' May concert, calling him one of the world's most influential antisemites, DW reported. Waters, who denies antisemitism, went to court, and in April 2023 a Frankfurt court ruled the show must go ahead, citing artistic freedom while calling parts of it tasteless.
Editorial timeline of public reporting, not a legal finding.
- City and state order the concert cancelled - According to a Hesse administrative courts press release, Frankfurt and Hesse on Feb. 24 instructed Messe Frankfurt to terminate the May 28 concert contract. DW reported they called Waters one of the world's most influential antisemites. Roger Waters darf am 28. Mai 2023 auftreten
- Frankfurt court overturns the cancellation - DW reported the Frankfurt administrative court said that although the show borrows Nazi-linked symbolism, it saw no glorification of Nazi crimes and that barring him would infringe his artistic freedom. The Guardian noted Waters has always denied accusations of antisemitism. Frankfurt must allow Roger Waters performance, court says