Paloma Faith forced to apologise after greeting crowds with 'Hola Espana' at a music festival in British territory Gibraltar

By Sophia Moir For Mailonline

Published: 12:54 EST, 6 September 2015 | Updated: 15:24 EST, 6 September 2015

Paloma Faith has been forced to apologise after she greeted crowds at the Gibraltar Music Festival on Saturday saying 'Hola Espana'.

The 34-year-old Hackney native - whose father is Spanish - further angered fans at the music bash by saying 'it's great to be in a place that's half English and half Spanish', despite Gibraltar being a British territory.

The Only Love Can Hurt Like This singer, who was one of the headline acts at the two-day event, took to Twitter on Saturday to apologise for the mix-up.

Scroll down for video 

Mix-up: Paloma Faith has apologised after greeting crowds at the Gibraltar Music Festival on Saturday with 'Hola Espana'

Mix-up: Paloma Faith has apologised after greeting crowds at the Gibraltar Music Festival on Saturday with 'Hola Espana'

Paloma said that she had no intention of offending the country's heritage and that she 'only brings love'.

She explained: 'If I offended anyone tonight in Gibraltar about their heritage Im sorry.I had no intention of doing that.i come in peace!I only bring love' [sic].

But it appears her apology wasn't taken lightly as she later added that she wished people could be more forgiving. 

Sorry: The singer tweeted a message of apology, adding that she 'had no intention of doing that'

Sorry: The singer tweeted a message of apology, adding that she 'had no intention of doing that'

'There's too much anger in the world already': She added that she wished for peace between the nations

'There's too much anger in the world already': She added that she wished for peace between the nations

She wrote to her 585k followers: 'I just wish that people could be kinder to each other and more compassionate and forgiving. There's too much anger in the world already'.

Fans at the concert were infuriated with her on-stage comments, as they took to Twitter in their droves after her performance to complain about the faux pas.

One wrote: 'Gibraltar and the Falklands are British. Bigotry like yours are why her comments are offensive here.'

Offensive: The 34-year-old Hackney native - whose father is Spanish - further angered fans at the music bash by saying 'it's great to be in a place that's half English and half Spanish', despite Gibraltar being a British territory

Offensive: The 34-year-old Hackney native - whose father is Spanish - further angered fans at the music bash by saying 'it's great to be in a place that's half English and half Spanish', despite Gibraltar being a British territory

Another added: 'sorry dahhhhrling [sic] but Gibraltar is 100% British and has been for over 300 years. It will ALWAYS be British and NEVER Spanish'. 

While another wrote: 'The awkward moment when you pay £65 to hear Paloma Faith say "Gibraltar Espaniol"''

Paloma, who performed at the event alongside Duran Duran, Union J and Little Mix, released Do You Want the Truth or Something Beautiful? in 2009 and won the Best British Female Solo Artist going at the Brit Awards in 2015.

She is also on the new line-up of coaches for the upcoming series of BBC's The Voice, alongside fellow newcomer Boy George, and existing coaches will.i.am and Ricky Wilson. 

Apology: She explained: 'If I offended anyone tonight in Gibraltar about their heritage Im sorry.I had no intention of doing that.i come in peace!I only bring love' [sic]

Apology: She explained: 'If I offended anyone tonight in Gibraltar about their heritage Im sorry.I had no intention of doing that.i come in peace!I only bring love' [sic]

 

 

 

Comments (102)

Share what you think

 View all

The comments below have not been moderated.

 View all

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

Add your comment

By posting your comment you agree to our house rules.

Who is this week's top commenter? Find out now