You know you’re on the right path when detractors begin resorting to the lowest forms of communication, especially through the realm of journalism. When they start publishing irresponsible stories that display little to no morals and a lack of respect for the reading public, it becomes evident.

In this case, it refers to a small group of press outlets and their unprofessional display of journalism concerning Marko Perković Thompson (MPT) and his impending world record-breaking concert, which is expected to be attended by over 500,000 ticketholders. At the expense of Marko Perković Thompson and his fans, these media outlets are resorting to pungent lies driven by resentment and bitter envy.

Despite their efforts to defame an artist and concert attendees, they are willing to ride the wave of his popularity with their clickbait stories. However, don’t expect any positivity from these virulent reporters; they will use every opportunity to insult and discredit Croatia’s most famous singer and his fans with lies while profiting from advertising revenue generated by clicks on their pitiful stories.

These hateful pieces reek of animosity and jealousy, poorly concealed behind a deliberate attempt to sabotage Marko Perković Thompson and the world record-breaking event. This animosity undoubtedly stems from reporters and fringe Marxist politicians who are unhappy about the undeniable reality of Thompson being not only Croatia’s most popular singer but also the nation’s most famous public figure.

Following the recent exciting announcements by the Thompson concert production team for the July 5 concert spectacle to be held at the Hipodrom in Zagreb, these certain press outlets (the usual culprits) have chosen to mock the unprecedented facilities being announced for the comfort of concert attendees, that has left the rest of the world impressed and in awe. While focusing on an alleged inability of inexperienced local crews to pull off such an event because of the lack of experience, they all but ignore the fact that hundreds of professionals who work at the world’s biggest events have flown in from all over the globe to coordinate and work this concert event.

Currently, the media is resorting to misleading scare campaigns and have excluded reporting on important information, such as the fact that there will be 2.5 million litres of drinking water that will hydrate the thirsty concert attendees on what is expected to be a hot summer day. There will be over 2 kilometres of bars staffed by 5,000 waiters, thousands of toilet cubicles, and an app to help coordinate foot traffic for concertgoers. Yet instead of offering genuine, deserved acknowledgment of these arrangements, they choose to mock both the organizers and the artist, as well as ridiculing the patriotism of the concertgoers.

It becomes alarming when the haters resort to dirty tactics by spreading false and misleading information to falsely portray the humble man of faith as some kind of fascist boogey-man, drawing unwarranted attention from foreign press, which in some cases have been taking the bait and proceeding to parrot the lies. The most recent examples include Jean Peters and Deutsche Welle of Germany. In typical fashion, they have simply parroted the same old lies and disinformation. 

Over the years, it has been my duty to hold foreign news outlets accountable for publishing false stories fuelled by Yugo-communist propaganda narratives and a hatred for Croatia. It should be noted that many news outlets have acted responsibly and professionally in the aftermath, in some cases removing their stories entirely and, in others, retracting statements and false information; a prime example being the widely read Newsweek from the United States. They published an article titled “Croatia World Cup Team Invites Pro-fascist Singer,” which was later amended and the inaccuracies removed.

There was once an interesting experience that unfolded at Zagreb airport when I gathered my film crew flying in from Australia, Japan, and Germany, heading to Split for a Thompson concert held on the Split Riva on August 4, 2019. After overhearing my team speaking in English with Australian accents, a group of international journalists approached them, inquiring if they were covering the event in Split. The crew responded affirmatively, at which point this group of journalists stated they were in Croatia to report on the “uprising of fascism in Croatia.”

Hearing this, I stepped in and said, “I am the person to talk to about an uprising of fascism.” They paused in suspense, to which I continued, “You have one problem with that story.” As they listened attentively, I further stated, “Fascism does not exist in Croatia.” Surprised by my statement, they wanted to know more.

The foreign journalists had the opportunity to attend the concert in Split and later interviewed me as a group, where I responded to questions as the international spokesperson for Marko Perković Thompson. It was made clear that Thompson opposes any and all forms of tyranny, whether fascist or communist. The interview concluded with the journalists acknowledging that they had not seen or heard anything to remotely suggest any uprising of fascism, resulting in no negative stories being published.

After thanking me for the interview, I asked them who had given them such a wrongful notion. They responded, “Croatian journalists and some members of the Croatian Parliament.” I politely explained to them that those targeting Thompson are generally pro-communist Yugo-nostalgists who are still sour about the fall of Yugoslav tyranny and harbor a particular disdain for anything patriotic or celebrating Croatian culture and heritage.

In recent years, the foreign press has largely ceased the unwarranted attacks on Marko Perković Thompson. However, this was the case until the announcement that the world record for concert ticket sales had been broken for the Thompson concert to be held in Zagreb. Contrary to previous defamatory pieces, new attacks are predominantly not from mainstream political journalists who have not been actively entertaining the false propaganda, but rather from entertainment journalists who have evidently been drawn into the lies and lured into publishing false and defamatory information about Thompson and his fans.

One of the main perpetrators of this new wave of poorly scrutinized, abhorrent journalism was David Mouriquand from Euro News, who echoed the typical outrageously false claims evidently fed to him by the same obsessive haters of Marko Perković Thompson. Although I sent Mouriquand and Euro News a cease-and-desist order regarding the article published on April 2, 2025, titled “Croatian Singer Marko Perković to Break Record for Most Tickets Sold for a Single Concert in History,” there was never any acknowledgment as to whether they received my email, nor was their slanderous story amended.

Since Mouriquand is known to regularly attend major film festivals, I followed up on my original email by inviting him to visit our stand at the Cannes Film Festival inside the Palais or to join me for a drink where we could discuss and resolve the misinformation in person. Again, there was no response, and the false and defamatory story remains actively published and available to the public, complete with all the false and defamatory claims, as of June 21, 2025, while I write this report.

We have since engaged in discussions with acclaimed Australian expat lawyer Don Markušić, based in Zagreb, Croatia, and the conclusion is that we need to set a precedent to stop the publication of such false and hateful stories which Markušić himself is also strongly offended by. At some point, an example needs to be set that you can’t cause harm to others by publishing maliciously defamatory hit pieces and irresponsibly discriminating against an entire people.

There is serious consideration that legal action may be taken against Euro News, Mouriquand, and other press outlets if they do not retract the lies that end up being parroted by other news outlets, unjustly harming both the artist's reputation and insulting the fans.

It’s time to draw a line between truth and lies; the Croatian people scattered all over the world as a consequence of tyranny have had enough of the false labelling and offensive narratives that continue to surface through irresponsible journalism.

Rest assured, there will occasionally be concert attendees planted by the haters for photo opportunities in an attempt to portray concertgoers as fascists. This has happened before and will likely happen again. In the past, one of the perpetrators even admitted to being paid off by journalists.

Regardless, any such random individuals will most certainly not reflect the sentiments of the 500,000-plus people attending the concert in celebration of faith, patriotism, and love for the homeland through song.

In our mission to provide an accurate account of the concert and represent what Marko Perković Thompson and his music truly stands for, Majestic Film, in association with Morrell Films and Empire Motion Pictures, will embark on a journey to produce a documentary for international audiences featuring a journey that will emphasize what Marko Perković Thompson truly represents while heavily focusing on the fans who, together with the artist, will comprise the biggest ticketed concert event in history. Stay tuned for further announcements.

As the lyrics to one of Thompson’s songs go:

"No surrender! Let us sing, sons of victory.

They will hate; we will love,

every inch of our only Homeland."

MEDIA RESPONSE VIDEO ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/TLARg8vy8xY