Coldplay frontman Chris Martin has found himself under fire after welcoming Israeli fans on stage at Wembley Stadium as ‘equal humans of Earth’.
The singer, 48, invited two female Israelis on stage on Sunday evening during the Music Of The Spheres World Tour after seemingly catching sight of their sign that read ‘We Believe In Magic’,a reference to the 2014 hit song Magic by the band.
He then introduced the pair to the crowd of 90,000 people as Avia and Tal, and then asked them where they travelled from to be at the gig.
They replied Israel, which was met with both boos and applause from the crowd, as shown in videos from concert goers.
‘I’m going to say this: I’m very grateful that you’re here as humans, and I’m treating you as equal humans on Earth, regardless of where you come from or don’t come from.
‘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, out of the belief we’re all equal humans. I believe that we’re all… that people are human. Thank you for being here. We’re very happy to see you.’
The comments have upset Israeli people, some who have claimed the move is dehumanising.
Shoshanna Keats Jaskoll commented on X sarcastically: ‘Guys, Chris Martin says we’re human beings! @coldplay’
‘Thank you Chris Martin from #Coldplay for confirming we are human. We were confused,’ said Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, the Former Deputy of Mayor of Jerusalem.
Israeli-American technology expert, Yaron Samid, who described himself on X as a ‘Proud Zionist’ and big Coldplay fan commented: ‘Chris, you’ve always seemed to be a kind, loving person that used music to bring people together. 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.’
The Creative Community for Peace commented: ‘At a Coldplay concert, two Israeli girls were booed simply for saying they were from Israel. And instead of defending them, Chris Martin “balanced” it by greeting “Palestine” then told the girls, “we are treating you as humans of this earth.”
‘Why did Israelis need to be reminded they will be treated as humans? Aren’t Israelis humans already? This is exactly the dehumanization Jews face again and again, and it’s shameful that it played out on a stage meant for music and unity.’
He also offended Palestinian people who felt it was unfair to say welcoming them to the concert would have been controversial.
‘Saying that supporting palestinians being there is “controversial”, f**k you Coldplay,’ said @teheaIicetehe on X.
‘What the f**k is controversial about welcoming people from Palestine. Absolute bell end!’ said bombralorradem.
Others said that the artist had done nothing wrong by acknowledging that both parties deserved to be welcomed at the concert.
‘Leave Chris Martin alone. Actually he did the opposite, he humanized the fans on stage while at the same time addressing the issue and avoiding normalizing the genocide – he handled the situation really well,’ said I_Ran_Away.
‘Chris Martin handled the situation perfectly. 🎶’ said jford00lala.
‘Coldplay will always stand with peace and liberation and that means supporting Palestinian artist for a long time and the Palestine cause for over a decade. I think he handled the situation the best he could and I hope Chris stops with the two sides-ism that is useless,’ said ghostimpera.
Chris has often welcomed people from Israel and Palestine during Coldplay concerts.
In June, after seeing a Palestinian flag in the crowd at Stanford Stadium, the singer said: ‘I’m so happy to see a Palestinian flag. But just to be clear: We love all people from everywhere, so don’t put that out on the internet with some bulls**t.’
In Toronto in July, he spotted an Israeli flag in the crowd and commented: ‘Yesterday, we had a beautiful Palestinian flag, today we have an Israeli flag,’ he had said in the recording.
‘So we welcome all people. Thank you, my brothers and sisters. It makes me happy that both groups can come.’
Coldplay has been supported in London and Abu Dhabi with supporting act Elyanna, a Palestinian-Chilean singer who joined them on several dates.
He indirectly addressed the conflict on stage while in Japan, telling the crowd in a video shared online: ‘Right now there is so much trouble in the world, so many terrible things happening. Most people on earth are full of love and full of kindness, compassion.
‘I don’t want to judge anybody else for being themselves. We don’t believe in oppression, or occupation, terrorism or genocide, nothing like that. We believe in loving each other and being kind to each other.’
Metro has reached out to Coldplay’s representatives for comment.
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