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Home / Entertainment

Lorde speaks out after George Floyd death: 'It's sickening'

NZ Herald
1 Jun, 2020 11:22 PM2 mins to read

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Thousands turn out in Auckland to protest the killing of George Floyd despite covid-19 restrictions. Video / Jed Bradley

Kiwi singer Lorde has spoken out after George Floyd's death.

The artist, who doesn't use social media, issued a message to her fans via email.

She wrote that she had been following events in the US over the past few weeks from New Zealand and attended the Black Lives Matter protest in Auckland on Monday.

READ MORE:
• George Floyd: Taika Waititi's Black Lives Matter tweets slammed as 'tone deaf'
• George Floyd death: DJ David Guetta's tone deaf tribute mocked on Twitter
• George Floyd killing: Spike Lee on what's different about these protests
• George Floyd death: Jamie Foxx's message for white friends as stars call for change

"Let me be clear: this ongoing systematic brutality by police is racist, it's sickening, and it's unsurprising," Lorde wrote.

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"I'm still learning the nuances of all this. I'm still working out how to practice activism while refraining from social media.

Lorde shared a message to her fans via email. Photo / Getty Images
Lorde shared a message to her fans via email. Photo / Getty Images

The artist acknowledged that "performative" activism from celebrities was one of the most "frustrating" things about social media, but wrote that "white silence right now is more damaging than someone's wack protest selfie".

"To my black and brown listeners - I'm so sorry this is your reality, that you haven't had a choice but to be defined by this, to give it your energy.

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A new Email from Lorde! #BlackLivesMatter

“So let me be clear: this ongoing systemic brutality by police is racist, it’s sickening, and it’s unsurprising”

“To my black and brown listeners —I’m so sorry this is your reality…” https://t.co/Vsc3qsHhA9 pic.twitter.com/kw1tKaff6M

— Lorde fix 🥀 BlackLivesMatter (@Lorde_fix) June 1, 2020

"I hope white people you know are doing what they can to ease your load. And I really, really hope systems will change to better protect you."

A number of other celebrities including Jamie Foxx and Beyonce have spoken out calling for justice after George Floyd's death.

Protests were sparked across the US after the African-American Minneapolis man died after a white police officer knelt on his neck for several minutes.

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02 Jun 12:01 AM
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02 Jun 12:18 AM
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