MILAN – The Italian rapper Fedez is the man of the hour in Italy and not because of a new hit album he released or a trendy Instagram story he shared with his wife Chiara Ferragni about his family life.
Over the weekend, the rapper garnered the support of fashion designers and the general public after igniting the country’s political scene with a speech given during the traditional television concert celebrating Labor Day on May 1st.
It took him about five minutes to get the debate going – and also to shake many consciences – as he focused the speech on the condemnation of homophobia and the support of the “DDL Zan”, a bill against homotransphobia, the passages of the penal code that already punish discrimination and violence based on racial, ethical and religious beliefs related to gender, gender, sexual orientation and gender identity, and disability. Approved by the Chamber, the Senate’s passage of the law has repeatedly been delayed by months.
In his speech, Fedez accused the right-wing party of the Lega Nord – led by Matteo Salvini – for this obstacle and pointed a finger specifically at the President of the Justice Commission, Andrea Ostellari.
He also listed controversial – and despicable – quotes from party officials, including their names.
He punished Ostellari for listing other priorities during the pandemic compared to the “DDL Zan”, including regulations on labeling wine or reorganizing the Italian National Olympic Committee CONI.
On top of all of these remarks, Fedez announced that national broadcaster Rai had asked him to submit his text for review, allegedly asking him to avoid naming specific individuals and parties and “sweetening” the content of his speech.
“I had to fight a little – a lot, actually – but in the end I got permission to express myself freely. Thanks, ”he said with a grin. “I take full responsibility for all things I say and do, but I know that the content of this speech has been defined as inappropriate by the vice director of Rai 3.”
After the speech, the discussion moved to social media, which was flooded with reports applauding Fedez and republishing the video. This included Ferragni herself, who showed support for her husband by sharing the speech with her 23.4 million followers. Meanwhile, Rai quickly denied any attempt at censorship and accused the singer of lying.
But Fedez served the last coup de théâtre and posted a video on Twitter recording himself on the phone with the Rai executives using the hands-free facility and in which “the vice director of Rai 3, Ilaria Capitani, and her staff urge me to speak to me to adapt to a system “by saying I can’t make names on stage,” read the tweet.
Specifically, the footage shows a visibly angry Fedez asking executives to explain what that system is and why he cannot give names when the facts he mentioned are true, to which a senior executive replied that the quotes could have been expressed out of context. “So are you telling me that these things mean different things in a different context?” asked Fedez.
In the hours that followed, Rai said the clips from the video didn’t show the full picture and posted a version of the conversation. Meanwhile, Fedez support continued to be provided by politicians – including former Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte – many local music stars, as well as fashion designers.
Under the post of speech Fedez shared with his 12.4 million followers (about 200,000 of whom came in the last two days), Donatella Versace commented, “GRANDE FEDEZ !!!!! Be tutti noi !!!! ”Which translates as:“ You are great. You are all of us ”in English.
Massimo Giorgetti from MSGM also commented “GRANDEEE !!! AND THANK YOU !!!! “while Valentinos Pierpaolo Piccioli responded with applauding and heart-shaped emoticons.
Piccioli commented on the episode in more detail on his personal account via two Instagram stories with the above video. In the first he just wrote “Bravo @fedez” while in the second he shared a long message in Italian.
“Progress needs courage, conscience and freedom of expression. Without the strength of those who [stand up for] Without stubbornness, which can be mistaken for naivety, nothing solid can be built, ”wrote Piccioli. “This is the time when our conscience must be shaken to get rid of the freezing of conformism, and when we must ceaselessly fight in its own way for everything that makes us more human, more civic and more open. We create the future, but our children will live there. Bravo @fedez for your words and your courage. “
Versace, Piccioli and Giorgetti previously showed their support for DDL Zan and posted pictures last month with the name of the bill on their hands.
At the time, Versace flanked her picture with the message, “It’s time to choose respect over discrimination. Love over hate. Inclusion instead of exclusion. “
Piccioli borrowed the words of the Italian film director and poet Pier Paolo Pasolini with a quote that read “The truth does not lie in one dream, but in many dreams.”
In his caption, Giorgetti wrote with a rainbow emoticon: “I don’t know where, but together … against any form of discrimination”.
Entries supported a campaign launched by the Italian edition of Vanity Fair under the hashtag #diamociunamano, inviting people to lend a hand and “seize a fundamental opportunity for Italy to educate respect and freedom, and finally a civil one To become country “. as stated in the magazine.
In his Labor Day speech, however, Fedez also called on the government to contact Prime Minister Mario Draghi directly to help the music and entertainment industry with “at least some remarks, a project, a reform to defend a sector that has been decimated by it” Emergency.”
The singer launched a dedicated initiative last year that brought together leading names in the local music scene and raised their personal donations to set up a fund for music operators and their families.
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