Alicia Keys Deletes and Clarifies ‘Completely Unrelated’ Post About Paragliding After Sparking Backlash

The singer-songwriter shared an Instagram post on Monday that some misinterpreted as including a reference to Hamas’ attack on Israel

Alicia Keys at the MTV VMAs in New York City on Sept. 12, 2021. PHOTO: TAYLOR HILL/FILMMAGIC

Alicia Keys has clarified a post on social media after receiving backlash from some who misconstrued it as being in support of Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

On Monday, the R&B superstar, 42, shared a photo of herself on Instagram wearing a green and brown moto jacket and made a reference to paragliding in the caption. “What would you do if you weren’t afraid of anything? Tell me your truth,” she wrote. “I’ve had my eyes on paragliding…. 👀👀.”

Because paragliders were used as a part of Hamas’ infiltration of Israel, per AP, some Instagram users interpreted the Grammy winner’s post as being antisemitic and insensitive, and alleged she wore green in reference to the Hamas flag.

Keys deleted the photo later on Monday and shared a statement on her Instagram Story. “The post I shared earlier was COMPLETELY unrelated in any way to the recent devastating loss of innocent lives,” the singer-songwriter said.

Alicia Keys’ Instagram Story.ALICIA KEYS/INSTAGRAM

“My heart has been breaking….,” the “No One” singer added. “I pray for and stand for peace.”

Shortly after the hitmaker shared her clarification, her former manager Guy Oseary, who is Israeli-American, posted a photo on Instagram of the two hugging and expressed his support of her in the caption.

“There’s talk of an antisemitic post that my dear friend Alicia Keys had up on her instagram. I can confirm to anyone in my ✡️ community that needs to hear it: it’s NOT true,” the music industry veteran, 51, wrote.

The manager, who currently works with Madonna and other stars, continued by explaining what many reacted to in Keys’ since-deleted post. “There was a specific word in her post that our community at this very painful time find very triggering, but it was absolutely not connected in any way,” he said. I spoke to Alicia and she was horrified to learn what the word implied and immediately took it down.”

He concluded by referring to Key’s commitment to philanthropy, which has included co-founding the nonprofit HIV/AIDS-fighting organization Keep a Child Alive, among other causes. He added, “Alicia has always been a fighter for all human rights. I’ve had a front row seat for over a decade of seeing her positive influence in the world. Her humanitarian work reflects her empathy and her heart.”

Swizz Beatz, whom the “Girl on Fire” artist has been married to since 2010, also shared his support for his wife. The rapper/record producer, 45, reposted her Story and chimed in on the comments of Oseary’s post, writing, “thank you guy we love you !”

In Beatz’s comment, he also provided further context to Keys’ paragliding reference. He said, “We have a school outside of our home and that’s what she was talking about getting rid of her [fear] of heights . I wish peace and love 🤍.”

The couple lives in a mountainside property overlooking the Pacific Ocean in La Jolla, California, where paragliding is among the popular sightseeing pastimes. Along the coast in the San Diego area, there are several paragliding schools, such as the Torrey Pines Gliderport.

Keys was among the recent recipients of the Black American Music Association’s first-ever ICE Medal of Honor awards, recognizing individuals in music who’ve made an impact on Black culture. The star was announced in September as the first to receive the ICE (or Imperial Crown of Excellence) Medal of Honor known as the Ella Fitzgerald gold standard award.