Ellie Goulding regrets advertising of controversial diamonds

Singer Goulding: “My values in this case not lived up to”

It is committed to climate protection and the rights of indigenous communities. Now the English singer Ellie Goulding has admitted that she has not satisfied her own demands with an advertising appearance. At an event held by the jeweler Boodles in London, she had presented pink diamonds – including stones from the controversial Australian Argyle mine.

“Protecting the environment is important to me,” Goulding said. “Unfortunately, I did not live up to my values in this case.” The concerns about the mine were not known to her. Diamonds from Argyle will not wear them again. The indigenous and local communities affected deserve better. ‘

Diamond mining at the Argyle mine in West Australia ended in 2020 after 37 years, the site is to be returned to the indigenous population. However, the Gelganyem Group, which represents the interests of indigenous people called “traditional owners” in Australia, expresses concerns about the ecological condition of the area. Open questions include the fate of long-lived PFAS chemicals in the soil. Indigenous communities demand unrestricted access without having to worry about unresolved environmental risks for future generations.

Goulding, 39, who became known with songs like »Lights«, received a British Order of Merit last year for her commitment to environmental protection. She was “deeply ashamed to have committed this mistake,” she told the Guardian. They want to use this moment as a reminder and continue to question the status quo in order to learn from it and to do better in the future. ‘

Boodles had acquired the brand and holdings of Argyle Pink Diamonds shortly before Goulding’s appearance.

Gelganyem Chairman Kia Dowell welcomed Goulding’s apology. She hopes that this will make the decommissioning requirements clearer. Mine operator Rio Tinto said that rehabilitation and restoration were already underway and that long-term controls should follow. We are also talking about the PFAS problem.

Goulding is an ambassador for the UN Environment Programme and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). He said that the incident had been discussed with the pop star. The singer is passionate about nature and human rights; Their support will continue to be appreciated. The jeweler Boodles has not yet commented on the matter.