Coldplay frontman Chris Martin has come under fire after dedicating a song to the family of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk during a concert at London’s Wembley Stadium.
The band, who are nearing the end of their record-breaking Music of the Spheres tour, performed for thousands on Friday night. But it was Martin’s introduction to their 2005 hit Fix You that caught attention online. Addressing the audience, Martin urged them to raise their arms and send love across the world, before specifically mentioning Kirk’s family.
Kirk, 31, was shot dead earlier this week in what authorities have described as a political assassination while speaking at Utah Valley University. He was a prominent ally of Republican President Donald Trump and co-founder of the conservative youth group Turning Point USA.
Martin told the crowd, “You can send this to your brother or your sister, you can send it to the families of people who have been going through terrible stuff, you can send it to Charlie Kirk’s family.”
His comments quickly spread online, sparking divided responses. Some fans criticised the dedication, calling it ‘insane’ and ‘disappointing’ given Kirk’s divisive politics. One X user said they would have ‘walked out’ if they had been in the audience, while another claimed they booed during the moment. Others, however, defended Martin, pointing out that his message was about sending love universally, even to people audiences may disagree with.
The backlash was further fuelled by resurfaced clips of Kirk himself mocking Coldplay in the past. In one video, he said, “I would rather be caught dead than be at a Coldplay concert. I couldn’t think of something more boring and banal.”
For Coldplay, the incident highlights how even calls for peace and love can become politically charged. Fans may have turned up expecting only music, but Martin’s words ensured the night ended with debate far beyond the stadium.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ