Rome’s New Year’s Eve Concert Makes a Bold Move
Italian rapper Tony Effe was recently dropped from the line-up of Rome’s highly anticipated New Year’s Eve concert. The decision came in response to an outcry over the singer’s controversial and offensive lyrics.
Rome mayor Roberto Gualtieri defended the move, stating that it wasn’t censorship but rather a decision made to prevent division and offense among the city’s residents. “We should have made this assessment earlier and for this we apologise first of all to Tony Effe,” Gualtieri told ANSA.
After facing days of criticism, the city finally decided to remove Tony Effe, 33, from the concert line-up, where he was set to perform alongside Mahmood and Mara Sattei.
Various groups and politicians, including members of Gualtieri’s own Partito Democratico (PD) party, condemned the rapper’s inclusion in the event. Differenza Donna, an association fighting gender-based violence, described Tony Effe’s lyrics as “sexist, misogynistic, and violent”, and called his presence unacceptable.
As the controversy grew, calls for Tony Effe to also be removed from the upcoming Sanremo music festival emerged. Critics claimed that artists like him promote a negative culture through their music.
In response, Tony Effe defended himself on social media, expressing his respect and love for all women. However, the decision to drop him from the concert stands.
While the search for a replacement act continues, Gualtieri aims to move past the controversy as the Vatican’s Jubilee Year approaches.
Photo credit: Photo-Video Lab / Shutterstock.com
