Roger Waters of Pink Floyd mocked musician's relative who died in Holocaust, report claims

Roger Waters, co-founder of Pink Floyd, is facing renewed scrutiny following an investigation by the Campaign Against Antisemitism. The group has released a 37-minute documentary that includes emails purportedly written by Waters, in which he allegedly asked his crew to inscribe derogatory language on an inflatable pig used in his concerts. Additionally, former music associates claimed that Waters mocked a former band member's grandmother who perished in the Holocaust and demanded that vegetarian food be removed, derogatorily referring to it as "Jew food."

These allegations are not the first to be made against Waters in recent years, despite his repeated claims of not being antisemitic. Waters' representatives have been contacted for comment by USA TODAY.

Gideon Falter, the CEO of the Campaign Against Antisemitism, remarked, "It is hard to imagine a rockstar emblazoning the N-word above their concerts, but Mr. Waters demanded that his crew do exactly that with the K-word," adding that Waters appeared to have humiliated and harassed Jewish staff. Falter concluded by asking whether Roger Waters is an antisemite and inviting people to form their own opinions.

The investigation included a 2010 email in which Waters asked if the floating pig could be adorned with various symbols, including crosses, Stars of David, and derogatory terms. Interviews with former associates, such as Norbert Stachel and Bob Ezrin, were also conducted.

Stachel recalled an incident during a tour in Lebanon where Waters criticized the food, referring to it as "Jew food" and demanding its removal. Stachel's grandmother, who died in the Holocaust, was allegedly mocked by Waters.

Ezrin shared an incident in which Waters sang a song insulting the Jewish heritage of agent Bryan Morrison during a conversation about him.

Earlier this year, U.S. special envoy to combat antisemitism Deborah Lipstadt and the State Department criticized Waters for his past behavior, including appearing on stage in a costume reminiscent of Nazi-era Germany during a concert in Berlin.

Waters' conduct has also drawn criticism from Pink Floyd lyricist Polly Samson and guitarist/singer-songwriter David Gilmour, both of whom have distanced themselves from their former bandmate. Samson accused Waters of being antisemitic and made other derogatory remarks, which were endorsed by Gilmour.