LIVE: NBC News NOW – Oct. 24 
Coldplay frontman Chris Martin has ignited a firestorm of debate after pausing the band’s Wembley Stadium concert in London on 12 September 2025 to deliver an unexpected tribute to American conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
During a quiet moment before performing the band’s hit song “Fix You,” Martin urged the massive crowd to “send love anywhere you want … you can send it to Charlie Kirk’s family … you can send it to people you disagree with, but you send them love anyway.” The statement came just days after Kirk—co-founder of the U.S. right-wing group Turning Point USA—was shot and killed while speaking at Utah Valley University. Martin paired the message with a broader call for compassion, also referencing “peaceful people in the Middle East, in Ukraine and Russia” as examples of where love was needed most.
While Martin’s intention appeared to be a plea for empathy, the mention of Kirk—a figure long associated with polarizing political rhetoric—immediately divided the crowd. Witnesses reported a mix of boos, cheers, and uneasy silence, reflecting the deep ideological split that Kirk’s name evokes. Many fans later took to social media to express their disappointment, accusing Martin of politicizing a concert that they viewed as an escape from political conflict. “We come for music, not politics,” one attendee wrote, while others questioned why Martin chose to single out Kirk over countless other victims of violence or global crises.
Critics argue that the tribute amounted to giving a platform to a man whose views many Coldplay fans oppose, with some calling it “tone-deaf” and “unnecessary.” Others pointed to the timing of the statement, saying it risked overshadowing the band’s performance and the tragedy’s broader context.
However, some supporters defended Martin’s words as a gesture of universal compassion, stressing that offering condolences does not equate to endorsing Kirk’s politics. They highlighted Martin’s emphasis on “sending love to people you disagree with,” framing the moment as a call to reject hatred even in the face of ideological division.
The controversy underscores the increasingly fraught intersection of music, politics, and public discourse. Coldplay, known for humanitarian and environmental advocacy, has often used its platform to speak on social issues, but Martin’s decision to invoke a figure as divisive as Charlie Kirk has sparked one of the band’s most contentious moments in recent memory. #chrismartin #hollywood #hollywoodspotlight #dakotajohnson
