Thompson's team rejects accusations of glorifying fascism at the concert: 'Life and community were celebrated'
Marko Perković Thompson's team has denied accusations of promoting fascism during recent concerts in Široki Brijeg, asserting the events were focused solely on themes of love and community.
Following sharp condemnations from various figures, including the Israeli ambassador in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the president of the Jewish humanitarian society La Benevolencija, Marko Perković Thompson's team has issued a statement defending their recent concerts held in Široki Brijeg on February 13 and 14. They have categorically rejected claims suggesting that the concerts glorified Nazism or fascism, emphasizing instead that the events were intended as celebrations of life, community, and emotional expression.
In their statement shared on Facebook, Thompson's team articulated that the concerts featured joyous moments including marriage proposals and emotional tears, underlining that these experiences conveyed messages of love, happiness, and peace. They firmly asserted that neither Thompson nor the themes of his music, including the song 'Bojna Čavoglave,' can be associated with totalitarian ideologies, as they aim to celebrate positive human values rather than historical atrocities.
The swift backlash following the concerts reflects ongoing sensitivities in the region, particularly relating to the legacy of the 1990s conflicts in the former Yugoslavia and the controversial narratives surrounding them. This incident highlights the complex interplay of national identity, historical memory, and cultural expression in Croatia, and raises questions about how public figures navigate issues of past and present ideologies in their work.