A statue of Amy Winehouse in her former home of Camden has had a pro-Palestinian sticker placed over a star of David necklace, prompting condemnation from many including environment secretary Steve Barclay.
Metropolitan police acknowledged the incident would cause “upset to many people”, and said they were “making inquiries with Camden Market to establish the circumstances and what evidence, such as CCTV footage, may be available”.
Owners of Camden Market, where the statue stands, said the sticker “was removed immediately, and the incident was reported to the police. Camden Market remains first and foremost, a place of diversity – a global destination that welcomes everyone. Any form of discrimination on our estate will not be tolerated”.
Speaking on Sky News, Barclay called the incident “quite unbelievable” and “deeply concerning”, saying it would cause “alarm and worry to many, particularly in the Jewish community”. He said the home secretary was “looking very closely” at antisemitism and added: “We stand as a government absolutely foursquare committed to tackling antisemitism.”
Winehouse had Ashkenazi Jewish heritage, and her early manager Nick Shymansky has said “neither of us was particularly religious, but we were very culturally Jewish”. The Winehouse family celebrated Shabbat dinners on a Friday, and as a child Winehouse – reluctantly, by her account – attended religious classes at a cheder school. She frequently wore the star of David necklace depicted on her statue.
A dog-tag with the words “bring them home now”, referring to Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, was later temporarily draped over the statue.
The Amy Winehouse Foundation had no comment on the stickering of the statue.
