Chris Martin is being called out for “dehumanizing” Israeli fans during a London show over the weekend.
The Coldplay frontman brought two concert attendees onstage during his band’s Wembley Stadium performance Sunday and asked where they were from.
Audience members booed and groaned — while some clapped — in response to the women replying, “Israel.”
Martin, 48, subsequently said, “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.
“Thank you for being here,” the Grammy winner continued. “We’re grateful and thank you for being loving and kind.”
The songwriter went on to “welcome people in the audience from Palestine … although it’s controversial, maybe,” which led to cheers from the sold-out arena.
“I believe that we’re all equally human,” Martin repeated.
“Deeply disappointed” social media users slammed the exchange via X, blasting Martin for “mortifying” and “alienat[ing] two [people] in front of thousands” in an “unnecessarily politicized” moment.
One fan urged the performer to “take a quiet moment to look back at [his] choice of words,” writing, “This was a tactless misstep that further tears people apart and deeply hurts some of your most loyal fans.”
Another added, “Israelis should be allowed to celebrate their identity on stage without having to be reassured by a celebrity that they’re ‘human.’ That shouldn’t have to be said. If Chris Martin wanted to lecture someone, it should have been the fans who booed.”
The individual acknowledged that Martin likely “thought he was doing the right thing” when he, a “normal person with empathy,” heard boos.
However, the fan noted, “At the end of the day, he took two girls who more than likely just wanted to enjoy some music and made them targets. While I genuinely and wholeheartedly believe his motives were pure, he still ended up reducing two young ladies to political pawns in a conflict.”
Some questioned the backlash altogether, with one fan asking, “What is wrong by saying we are all humans?”
Martin’s rep did not immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment.
The “Fix You” crooner made headlines in May 2025 for pointing out a Palestinian flag at a California show, gushing that he was “so happy” to see it.
While performing two months later, Martin pointed out, “Yesterday, we had a beautiful Palestinian flag, today we have an Israeli flag. So we welcome all people. Thank you, my brothers and sisters. It makes me happy that both groups can come.”
The Israeli fans who were booed Sunday said on Israel’s KAN public broadcast that they did consider lying “for a split second” and telling Martin they were from Malta, according to Times of Israel.
“We couldn’t and didn’t want to lie,” one of the women said. “It was a bit scary that 90,000 people know we are from here, but we said it.”
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