Ellie Goulding apologises for promoting diamonds from Argyle mine

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 20 Oct, 09:31 · Archive

Singer Ellie Goulding has apologised after wearing diamonds from Western Australia's controversial Argyle mine at a London jewellery event.

Singer Ellie Goulding appeared as guest of honour at the flagship store launch of jewellery brand Boodles in London earlier this month. She wore pink diamonds worth £500,000, some of which originated from Western Australia's Argyle mine.

The mine, which ceased operations in November 2020, has long faced complaints from Indigenous people that their land was being seriously damaged. Goulding faced backlash for the appearance, particularly given her years of campaigning on environmental issues and her roles as a UN environment programme goodwill ambassador and WWF ambassador.

Goulding apologised, stating: 'Protecting the environment is a cause close to my heart. I always strive to uphold those values. Regretfully, in this instance, I fell short.' She said she was unaware of the concerns surrounding the Argyle mine and pledged not to wear diamonds from it again. 'The Indigenous and local communities affected deserve better,' she said, adding that she was 'mortified' to have made the error in judgment.

How it is being reported

• Ellie Goulding apologises after diamond mine controversyEllie Goulding was criticised for promoting controversial pink diamonds (Picture: Dave Benett/Getty Images for Boodles) Singer Ellie Goulding found herself swept up in a diamond scandal after appearing at an event in London earlier this month. Ellie, 39, was the ‘guest of honour’ at the flagship…Metro · 20 Oct, 09:22
• Ellie Goulding admits error over promoting diamonds from controversial Australian mineSinger ‘mortified’ about wearing diamonds from Argyle mine at centre of environmental concerns about Indigenous land The singer Ellie Goulding has admitted her error at having promoted diamonds at the centre of environmental concerns about Indigenous land in Australia, despite having spent years campaigning on environmental issues – including the effects of mining on ancestral lands. She appeared at a event in London earlier this month for the jewellery brand Boodles, modelling some of its newly acquired pink diamonds , some of which came from a controversial mine in Western Australia.…The Guardian · 19 Oct, 14:20

In this story: Ellie Goulding · Boodles · Argyle mine · Western Australia · United Nations · WWF

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem