New Zealand singer Lorde has been called a “bigot” in a full-page newspaper advertisement in The Washington Post for cancelling her concert in Israel.

The page five ad accused the New Zealand government of prejudice against Israel and criticised the 21-year-old for joining a “global anti-semitic boycott of Israel” and still performing in Russia.

The ad in the newspaper’s December 31 edition, which was taken out by rabbi author Shmuley Boteach, features a large photo of the singer superimposed over a picture of men running through rubble cradling babies.

The controversial ad is headlined "Lorde and New Zealand ignore Syria to attack Israel" and states that “21 is young to be a bigot”.

Last week, the Grammy Awards winner cancelled a concert planned in Tel Aviv, Israel’s capital, for June following criticism from activists in the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement.

The decision also came after an open letter written by two New Zealand fans argued the concert would show support for Israel’s occupation of Palestine.

The advertisement in the Post says Lorde’s decision showed how a “growing prejudice against the Jewish State” in New Zealand was “trickling down to its youth”.