Macron responds to singer Zaho de Sagazan who urged him to stop using her songs as long as he "allows a massacre" in Gaza

While her melancholic songs with electro rhythms have made her one of the musical phenomena of the moment, Zaho de Sagazan is now very openly committed to politics. In a text published on her Instagram account, the artist denounces the gravity of the situation in Gaza and calls on Emmanuel Macron on this burning issue. She also urges him to stop using her songs in his political communications.

In this column, the Saint-Nazaire native, elected female artist at the Victoires de la Musique 2025, describes a Palestinian people "bombed, starved, displaced, humiliated by the Israeli government, led today by a far-right coalition." Faced with this situation, according to her, "this world looks the other way. Or worse: it justifies, relativizes, temporizes." After having mentioned "the atrocious crimes committed by Hamas" during October 7, Zaho de Sagazan believes that "this violence cannot serve as an alibi for an endless massacre."

Skip the ad

This indictment of the Israeli government is followed by a direct address to the French president, who has repeatedly used her title , The Symphony of Lightning , in communications on his social networks. "While you celebrate 'light,' sensitivity, compassion, under the clouds, a few kilometers from our home, children are living in hell," she writes. She continues "gravely" and in bold letters: "Do not use the words of artists if you do not act for the lives they defend."

"I refuse to allow the pain to be covered by silence," the head of state replied, affirming that "France is not providing any military aid, either direct or indirect," to the operations carried out by the Israeli army in Gaza. "I share your demand: the situation is getting worse, what we are doing collectively is not enough," he wrote again, assuring him that he would "not look the other way." "Following my discussions with our partners, I am optimistic that we will be able to resume our humanitarian actions very quickly to meet the most urgent needs of civilians," he also said. "We demand that violations of international law be punished. Without ambiguity," Emmanuel Macron also indicated.

Zaho de Sagazan also drew up a list of political measures that she believes should be undertaken in the Middle East. They are formulated in the imperative, always addressed to Emmanuel Macron: "Demand a total ceasefire" , "put an end to military cooperation" or "make sure that humanitarian aid can finally get through" . The publication ends in an anaphoric style: "It's about saying stop to the crushing of a people" , "It's about demanding actions. Not words" and finally "It's about finding our heart. Our lucidity. And our humanity".

The post, published Saturday evening, had received nearly 90,000 likes on Instagram by Sunday afternoon, including several from high-profile figures such as singer Angèle and actress Adèle Exarchopoulos . Environmental activist Camille Étienne even expressed her agreement in a comment accompanied by a heart, as did the musical duo Terrenoire, which has collaborated with singers Pomme and Louane.

This is not the first time that Zaho de Sagazan has shared her political opinions publicly. On her Instagram account, in July 2024, in a post-dissolution context, she had castigated "a demonization of the left and a de-demonization of the extreme right in the absolutely filthy media" . She had said she was sending "a big big fuck to Cyril Hanouna" and had signed an open letter to Vincent Bolloré, published in Le Parisien . After a concert organized at Place de la République at the same time, she spoke to a journalist from L'Humanité : "There are real racists but also a lot of nice people who vote for the RN without realizing that they are voting for the devil and it breaks my heart" .