Sir Rod Stewart’s biggest controversies after backing Reform ahead of headlining Glastonbury

Sir Rod Stewart left swathes of fans shocked this weekend as he publicly backed Reform ahead of his Sunday teatime Glastonbury set.

In statements made during an interview with The Times, Sir Rod, 80, stirred up drama by suggesting that voters give Nigel Farage ‘a chance.’

‘We’re fed up with the Tories. We’ve got to give Farage a chance. He’s coming across well. What options have we got?’ he said.

This didn’t go down well with some, who took to social media to describe millionaire Sir Rod as ‘out of touch.’ Meanwhile, controversial Irish rappers Kneecap also took a dig, describing the Maggie May singer as ‘older than Israel.’

Having been in showbusiness for six decades, this is hardly Sir Rod’s first brush with controversy, from high-profile celeb spats to admissions of light ‘plagiarism’ and accusations of battery.

Let’s revisit Sir Rod’s biggest headlines over the years.

Swearing at the AMAs (2025)

Sir Rod Stewart accepted a Lifetime Achievement Award onstage during the 51st American Music Awards earlier this year.

When he arrived on stage, he was surprised there by five of his children – Kimberly, Sean, Ruby, Renee and Liam, all of whom clapped as he arrived on stage.

‘I’m so f***ing overwhelmed that you’re here,’ accidentally dropping an F-bomb – causing CBS to cut away so as to avoid airing the expletive.

Sniping at Ed Sheeran (2024)

Sir Rod was particularly blunt when asked his opinion of The Shape of You singer Ed Sheeran last year.

Weighing in with his opinion on new music by The Times, Sir Rod didn’t mince his words when it came to Ed.

‘I don’t know any of his songs,’ he said. ‘Old ginger b***s. Jesus.’

Getting booed in Germany (2024)

Sir Rod was touring Europe in June last year when he was booed by audiences in Germany.

During the show, he performed his 1991 hit Rhythm Of My Heart – which he describes as an ‘anti-war’ song.

Fans in attendance reportedly booed the singer as images of the Ukrainian flag and the President Zelensky appeared on screen.

It has been speculated that this reaction may have been due to the sanctions by the EU on Russia’s natural gas which have been controversial in Germany.

Attack on Gregg Wallace (2024)

Last year, Sir Rod leapt to the defence of wife Penny Lancaster amid accusations that she’d been bullied by then-Masterchef host Gregg Wallace.

Writing on social media, he celebrated the celebrity grocer’s downfall, saying: ‘So Greg Wallace gets fired from Masterchef. Good riddance Wallace…

‘You humiliated my wife when she was on the show but you had that bit cut out didn’t you? You’re a tubby, bald-headed, ill-mannered bully. Karma got ya.’

Last year, it was confirmed Wallace was stepping away from the role amid an external review into historical allegations of misconduct.

Wallace and his lawyers fiercely denied the allegations, saying ‘it is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature’.

Accusations of ‘sexism’ (2024)

In 2024, a piece by Far Out Magazine questioned whether the musician might have ‘the most offensive run of singles in music history.’

Calling into question songs like Hot Legs and Good Morning Little Schoolgirl, author Aimee Ferrier blamed the singer’s discography for perpetuating negative attitudes to women and ‘sexualising’ young girls.

‘The singer’s ability to prosper in spite of tracks like these reflects the music industry’s championing and protection of male artists, no matter the morality of their lyrics,’ wrote the author.

‘Banned’ from BBC Radio (2023)

Sir Rod revealed that he was once forbidden from performing two songs on BBC Radio due to their ‘anti-English’ overtones.

‘I’m doing a live acoustic set on BBC Radio on Friday morning, the biggest show across the land. And I asked if I could do “The Killing of Georgie,” which, as you know, is about a homosexual friend of mine.

‘Well, he was a friend of the Faces, who was murdered in the ’70s. I thought it would be OK now because they banned it when it first came out And I asked if I could sing it and they said no, it was too controversial,’ he told Billboard Magazine.

He added, ‘Also, they won’t let me sing “Grace” because of its Irish, anti-English overtones in the song. Forget about it, it’s one of the greatest love songs ever written. The guy goes to his death 15 minutes the next morning after he’s been married and I can’t sing that one either.’

A spokesperson for the BBC denied this, saying: ‘No songs are banned on the BBC. We do not ban songs on the BBC. All songs performed live on the BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show are agreed with the artist.’

‘Nicking’ his hit song (2022)

In 2022, Sir Rod admitted to being guilty of ‘nicking’ the melody for his 1978 hit Do Ya Think I’m Sexy.

He said he heard a similar track at Rio carnival, and freely admits that was where the inspiration came from.

Speaking to Nile Rodgers on Apple Music’s Deep Hidden Meaning Radio, the singer said: ‘Well, I nicked it from, It wasn’t a conscious nick, I was in Brazil for the festival, and I heard this song and I just, I nicked it.’

He added: ‘Subconsciously I came back in the studio and started singing it and put words to it about six months later. But I put my hand up and I said, “Fair nick, I’m guilty”, And all the proceeds actually went to UNICEF.’

‘Spiteful’ feud with Sir Elton John (2021)

Over the years, Sir Rod has taken no shortage of swipes at fellow English rock legend (and Knight of the realm) Sir Elton John.

However, he believes he crossed a line during an appearance on an American talk show, when he slammed Sir Elton’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour as ‘a money grab.’

In a subsequent podcast interview with Harry Redknapp, he said: ‘We’ve always been fierce enemies as you know through the years but it’s always been at a playful level, but I was a bit spiteful about when he announced his tour.

‘I was on an American TV show of which they apply you with lots of drinks before the show and I said I just see it as money grabbing.

‘He’d retired a couple of times before, three years to retire, and I got spiteful and I regret it. I really do regret it, but anyway we’re all good mates now.’

Congratulations Boris (2019)

Taking to Twitter after his latest album reached number one in the UK in 2019, Sir Rod upset some with a show of kind words for Boris Johnson, congratulating him on his recent election win.

He tweeted: ‘Thank you once again to my legions of fans who I will never take for granted. Bless you all and a Merry Christmas.’

‘Well done Robbie [Williams], well done Boris [Johnson], no hard feelings Pete Townshend!’ Rod tweeted.

In a 2023 interview, he described himself as a ‘fan’ of Boris, telling Sky News: ‘I think he’s got wonderful charisma.

‘But you know what you were getting with Boris, you know, so it’s not unusual.’

Pleading guilty to battery (2019)

That same year, Sir Rod and son Sean plead guilty to misdemeanor charges of simple battery after an altercation with a security guard at a New Year’s Eve bash.

‘No one was injured in the incident and a jury did not find Sir Rod Stewart guilty of the accusation,’ lawyer Guy Fronstin said in a statement.

‘Instead, Sir Rod Stewart decided to enter a plea to avoid the inconvenience and unnecessary burden on the court and the public that a high-profile proceeding would cause.’

Row with Russell Brand (2006)

Sir Rod publicly clashed with Russell Brand at an awards ceremony in 2006, after the comedian made a crude remark about his daughter, Kimberly.

‘Here’s to Rod Stewart who had a go at me earlier this year for too much womanising,’ Brand said at The Man of the Years awards. ‘But then again I did have a go on his daughter.’

Taking to the stage to collect his own audience, Sir Rod called out Brand, saying: ‘You went with my daughter, did you?’

After he demanded to know whether Brand had behaved himself, the disgraced comedian backtracked, saying: ‘I never touched that girl.’

‘F***ing right, you didn’t,’ Stewart shot back, adding: ‘You mustn’t come up here and boast. I speak here as a father.’

Brand is currently awaiting trial on charges of rape and sexual assault relating to four different women, all of which he has denied.

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