Police are carrying out inquiries after a Star of David necklace on a statue of singer Amy Winehouse was covered with a sticker of a Palestinian flag.
The sticker was discovered on Monday morning on the Camden Market statue depicting the musician, who died in 2011 at the age of 27.
Camden Market said the sticker was “removed immediately” after it was discovered and that the incident had been reported to the police.
“Camden Market remains, first and foremost, a place of diversity – a global destination that welcomes everyone,” they said in a statement on X.
“Any form of discrimination on our estate will not be tolerated.”
Amy Winehouse’s father Mitchell Winehouse stands next to Amy’s statue following its unveiling in 2014. Pic: PA
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: “We are aware of an image being shared on social media which shows the statue of Amy Winehouse in Camden Market with a pro-Palestinian sticker placed over the Star of David.
“We know this will have caused upset to many people.
“We are making enquiries with Camden Market to establish the circumstances and what evidence, such as CCTV footage, may be available.”
Amy Winehouse often wore a Star of David necklace during her performances. Pic: PA
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A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism described the incident as an act of antisemitism.
“Covering the Star of David, a well-known symbol of Judaism, on the statue of a British Jewish singer, with a sticker of the Palestinian Authority flag is antisemitic,” they said in a statement.
“Right now, 69% of British Jews say that they are less likely to show visible signs of their Judaism right now. When even a statue of a Jewish person can’t get away with it, is that any surprise?”
Winehouse, who became a household name with her hit second album Back To Black, was raised Jewish by her parents in North London and went to Hebrew school every Sunday as a child.
While she said in interviews that she was “not religious”, she described pride in her cultural heritage and traditions, and frequently performed with a Star of David medallion.
