Roger Waters getting accused of spreading antisemitism is, to me, proof that ‘research before you speak’ needs to be made mandatory

Standing on stage in Berlin, Roger Waters brought his fans the hits they have loved for years and told the story of The Wall just the way the film was made in 1982. However, there are trolls who don’t know anything about the 1979 studio album or the film that was subsequently released and seem to think the great musician is antisemitic, spreading hatred and lies about the Holocaust.

For those standing in the back, The Wall is somewhat biographical. It follows a musician who is dealing with the trauma brought on by his father’s death in World War II and the torture he endured at the hands of abusive teachers growing up. As he builds a “wall” around himself brick by brick, he is forced to perform by his manager and all the other roadies surrounding him at all times. In a hallucinatory state brought on by drugs injected into him by a paramedic, he goes on stage and thinks he is a dictator ruling over the audience. This is where the confusion comes in for those who have no idea what the story is about.

Roger Waters actually lost his father in World War II, and his teachers were abusive. His stance is strongly against fascism, and the uniform mocks the dictator. How could anyone get that wrong? The answer is: It’s easy when the trolls of Twitter have no idea what the album or the film is about.

This tweet comes with a warning because of how wrong this twit got it.

Shoddy reporting at its best!

If only one of these guys would just try to get it right.

One fact-deprived individual went so far as to write a letter to have Roger Waters canceled.

It’s really sad how so many people can have it so wrong and be so confident in being that wrong.

However, true fans have their hands full trying to keep the record straight.

He does this every show. The song is satire. Waters and Pink Floyd were criticizing fascism with the song. You’d know that if you weren’t purposefully being a dishonest hack

— Eduardo Neret (@eduneret) May 24, 2023

Will showing the clueless ones what it’s really about help?

Here’s Bob Geldof playing the same part that Waters plays here. It’s not a Nazi uniform, it’s a fictional authoritarian regime. It’s from the song “the wall”.

But I think you know all this already and are just trying to weaponise anitsemitism for clicks and smears. pic.twitter.com/LMmFjKe9vw

— It’s Norm (@dcentralised) May 26, 2023

Using a few choice words might simply be more satisfying.

>he doesn’t know about The Wall

Peak woke brainrot https://t.co/hruZ4JZ2o5

— Marshal Bohemond (@HMBohemond) May 26, 2023

Roger Waters? Under investigation? Says who?

We are a deep in the cultural goldfish bowl if *The Wall* is now getting reported as if it were unironic Nazism.

THE WALL. https://t.co/ehvAVOByRu

— Henry Hill (@HCH_Hill) May 26, 2023

Sometimes, sitting someone down and trying to explain is worth a try, but there are no promises it’s going to change anyone’s mind.

Roger’s father was killed by Nazis you stupid arrogant prick. This is literally a reenactment from Pink Floyd’s album & film The Wall. Can’t believe people don’t understand that. Maybe research your shit before you spread disgusting out of context things like this. https://t.co/psLThHzLR9

— Alec (@Schroeder_boi) May 26, 2023

It is very scary that a tweet can get so many twits into the conversation without any of them knowing what they’re talking about.

Its genuinely scary how illiterate people are becoming.

Watching The Wall and thinking its a Pro-Fascist show requires you to literally turn off your brain. https://t.co/lSi6HaJp03

— Andromeda ✯ (@AndromedaPip) May 26, 2023

It’s not good enough that there is a warning attached to this one.

The Wall is so old it’s back to being a threatening underground piece of counterculture again https://t.co/XgmTGUEkPi

— Conan, Esq (@conan_esq) May 25, 2023

The conversation keeps going, even though fan after fan is doing their best to prove what it’s all about. It’s so surprising how acting out the villainous character in a film can have an artist categorized as that same character.

An extraordinary mischaracterisation of what is a character from ‘The Wall’ (the point about SS insignia is also untrue).

I think there should be strong concerns re freedom of expression under a Starmer government. This stuff is default for many in the NGO-Westminster complex. https://t.co/Ka4v7McO4E

— Aaron Bastani (@AaronBastani) May 26, 2023

Combatting misinformation such as what The Wall is about and the story Roger Waters is trying to tell can get very exhausting. It gets even worse when it becomes like the three-headed hydra that grows three heads back every time someone cuts off one.