Mentions of “intifada” Cut from the Broadcast

Julian Casablancas + The Voidz took the stage on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Wednesday night to perform their latest single, “Blue Demon”—but not without controversy. CBS censored two instances of the word “intifada”, a term with political significance in the Israel-Palestine conflict.

In the original lyrics, Casablancas sings:
“We fight each other like two brothers / Father forgive me, intifada / Too many babies dead like their mothers.”

Both mentions of “intifada”—an Arabic word meaning “resistance movement”—were removed from the televised performance. The term has historically been used to describe uprisings in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, including the First Intifada (1987-1993) and Second Intifada (2000-2005).

Censorship Amid an Ongoing Humanitarian Crisis

The lyric “Too many babies dead like their mothers” references civilian casualties in Gaza. As of November 2024, 70% of verified victims in the conflict were women and children.

“Blue Demon” was officially released last week and is set to appear on The Voidz’s upcoming EP, Megz of Ram, expected this spring. Before the performance, Colbert teased the project, though no official announcement has been made. The band’s last album, Like All Before You, dropped in 2024.

Upcoming Live Shows

Fans can catch The Voidz live this summer at:
🎸 IDLES’ Bristol Block Party (UK) – August
🎸 Ypsigrock Festival (Italy) – August

Stay tuned for more updates on Megz of Ram and The Voidz’s next moves.