On Thursday, many Limp Bizkit fans received an email notification about the cancellation of the band's concert in Tallinn, which was scheduled for early next summer. As Postimees reports, the event has been canceled for reasons beyond the organizers' control.
Last week, the publication Postimees reported on the warm relations of Limp Bizkit's vocalist Fred Durst with Russia: at one time, the singer even planned to purchase real estate in occupied Crimea.
The band has held pro-Putin views since 2015.
In 2015, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) banned Fred Durst from entering the country for five years, placing him on a list of individuals posing a threat to national security. The reason for the ban was Durst's performances in occupied Crimea, as well as his public support for the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics – unrecognized separatist entities in eastern Ukraine.
On Friday, representatives of the organizers, Baltic Live Agency OÜ and NTR Team, explained Durst's position by stating that he was married to a Russian woman and therefore was in a "distorted information space."
"As far as we know, since 2022, the artist has made no statements glorifying Russia or justifying the aggressive war (even indirectly). Artists often address their international audience on social media, so we see no problem with Limp Bizkit addressing the Russian audience over the past ten years," the organizers commented.
The Estonian Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Culture condemned the planned concert of Limp Bizkit in May. Liisi Rohtung, communications advisor for the Ministry of Culture, stated on Friday to Kroonika that Russia is the aggressor and Crimea is occupied, therefore "those who support Russia have no place on the Estonian stage, and they should not earn here."
Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna also reminded concert and cultural event organizers that those who justify Russia's aggression and the occupation of a neighboring country are not welcome in Estonia.
"They have no place on the Estonian stage, and they should not earn here. Concert and cultural event organizers must understand this. This is a clear position of Estonia, and we have adhered to this principle for many years. I hope that concert organizers will follow it now as well," he stated.
What exactly caused the cancellation of the concert – Durst's pro-Russian views or condemnation from Estonian authorities – is currently unknown.
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