Coldplay’s Chris Martin sparked outrage after he invited young Israeli fans to join him on stage in the UK and noted that they are “equal humans on earth,” while also welcoming the Palestinians in the crowd.
A viral clip of the interaction shows the two nervous fans on stage with Martin at London’s Wembley Stadium Sunday night, drawing a mix of boos, groans and some applause from the sold-out crowd.
“I’m going to say this. I’m very grateful that you’re here as humans. We are treating you as equal humans on earth, regardless of where you come from,” Martin, sitting at a piano, tells them.
“Thank you for being here. We’re grateful and thank you for being loving and kind.
“Although it’s controversial, maybe, I also want to welcome people in the audience from Palestine,” he then said, prompting the crowd to erupt in cheers. “I believe that we’re all equally human.”
Martin’s remarks drew the ire of members of the Jewish community, who felt he both embarrassed the fans in front of thousands of people and belittled their right to exist.
Self-described Zionist journalist Eve Barlow said she “cannot even begin to unpack how mortifying that moment must have been” for the two fans.
“Imagine being called up to be celebrated as fans of your favorite band and it is turned into an opportunity to qualify your existence in front of an audience of tens of thousands,” she posted on X.
Jewish Youtuber Yaakov Langer called Martin’s comments “disgusting.”
“Coldplay invited two women on stage then berates them and makes them feel bad for … being Israeli,” he wrote in a post. “He didn’t mention the hostages being held by Hamas. He didn’t actually treat them like human beings.”
Casey Babb, a research fellow, blasted Martin for turning “what should have been a night of celebration, awe, and excitement” into “an evening of humiliation, confusion, and sadness because you lack even the most basic understanding of the things you preach.”
“Instead of supporting them and treating them like you would any other fans – with dignity, respect, and kindness – you made them feel conditionally tolerated, dehumanized, and guilty of being Jewish,” Babb posted.
“Chris, you’ve always seemed to be a kind, loving person that used music to bring people together,” wrote Israeli Coldplay fan Yaron Samid. “This was a tactless misstep that further tears people apart and deeply hurts some of your most loyal fans. I hope you can take a quiet moment to look back at your choice of words and realize they came from a place of growing prejudice against Israeli people that have been drawn into a war they never asked for.”
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
