A major corporate sponsor, PwC, has withdrawn from the 25th Sydney Biennale following a police complaint alleging antisemitic hate speech by a participating DJ. The NSW Jewish Board of Deputies filed the complaint against US electronic music producer Zubeyda Muzeyyen (DJ Haram) over comments made during the opening night party, which the Board claims incited hatred against Jewish Australians.
The incident highlights the intense and ongoing debate within the global art world over the line between political expression, criticism of Israel, and antisemitism. It echoes recent controversies at major exhibitions like Documenta and the Venice Biennale, raising critical questions about artistic freedom, institutional responsibility, and the pressures corporate sponsors face when exhibitions become politically charged.