BILLY JOEL SPEAKS OUT BY WEARING YELLOW 'STAR OF DAVID' PATCH AT NYC CONCERT
At a sold out show in New York City, Billy Joel made a powerful, political statement Monday night (Aug. 21) by wearing a yellow Star of Davidon the lapel and back of his jacket during the encore.
Back in June, Joel had told Rolling Stone that he preferred to stay away from political commentary, but it seems he changed his mind. Wearing the symbol comes following the deadly White Nationalistprotest in Charlottesville, Virginia, which left three dead, followed by Donald Trump's controversial remarks.
The symbolism of the star is: In Nazi , Jews were forced to wear a yellow Star of David on their outer clothing to help public officials and non-Jewish citizens identify them during the Holocaust.
Billy Joel was born to Jewish parents and according to Newsday, the 68-year-old’s grandfather was forced to flee Nazi in 1938, and Joel had other relatives who died in the Holocaust as well.
- Twitter s called him a hero, and two of Joel’s ex-wife's posted comments…Christie Brinkley stated: "A yellow star appeared on the jacket of another kind of star with a clinched fist that seemed to be gripping painful, no excruciating, memories of loved ones who wore that star to their death. Thank you Billy for reminding people what was...so it may never ever be again."
- Ex-wife Katie Lee posted this: "Truly in awe of my former husband @billyjoel wearing the yellow Star of David at his concert at MSG last night. He is an incredible man and what a way to take a stand. He continues to inspire me and I hope he does to each and every one of you."
- Jews wore these stars prior and post Kristallnacht, or The Night of Broken Glass, which is now known as the start of Nazi concentration camps and Hitler's extermination of 6 million Jews.
- During Monday night’s show, Joel took a swipe at the Trump istration by projecting photos of the numerous ousted staffers, including Steve Bannon, while singing "Goodbye to You."
- This was Billy Joel's 43rd sold out show at Madison Square Garden.
