Black Eyed Peas Wear Rainbow Armbands During NYE Poland Show

The Black Eyed Peas showed solidarity with the LGBT community to ring in the New Year – on Polish soil… and on a state-sanctioned TV channel no less.

The music group was hired to headline TVP’s “New Year’s of Dreams” show, and when they finally took the stage… all 4 members came out wearing rainbow bracelets. Looks like they kept them on for a while as they went through their set too.

Naturally, that sparked outrage among Poland’s Law and Justice Party (PiS), which is currently in power — and which has adopted very strong anti-LGBT views and policies … which have swept through much of the country. dripping and being embraced by several citizens as well.

One of those members of PiS, Marcin Warcholexpressed outrage at the BEP’s accessories, writing… “LGBT promotion in TVP2. SHAME! It’s not a New Year’s Eve of dreams, but a New Year’s Eve of deviance.”

The funny thing is that TVP is more or less a state broadcaster — they regularly broadcast programs that align with PiS … and the Black Eyed Peas are presumably hired by someone who works there/is associated with the ruling party. So… this is a little bit on them.

will.i.am caught wind of the backlash and responded by writing… “#WHEREStheLOVE??? Unity, tolerance, understanding, unity, respect, diversity and inclusion…THAT IS LOVE… people are people and we should all practice to honor and love all the different kinds of people on earth and learn from them…I LOVE YOU, your country…”

He further discussed the matter on video and posted a snippet explaining why they did what they did — and it all comes down to reaching out to people who disagree.