Coldplay’s Chris Martin reflects on his gig comments that have “become viral, negatively” thanks to “a group of people are angry because I want to love all people”

Coldplay’s Chris Martin reflects on his gig comments that have “become viral, negatively” thanks to “a group of people are angry because I want to love all people”

Coldplay frontman Chris Martin has reflected on the “angry” and “negative” response to some of the viral comments he’s made on tour recently.

During an interview with Hits Radio’s ‘Off The Record’, Martin was asked about a moment at the end of their final Wembley Stadium date earlier this month, when fans held up red paper hearts.

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The stunt was the result of an online fan project, and left Martin tearful and emotional as he departed the stage (see the footage below).

He opened up to Hits Radio about why the sight “made me cry”, before acknowledging some negative reactions to certain remarks he’s made at gigs of late. “I did get a little shaken recently,” Martin explained.

“Because almost every time that I’ve said anything that we really believe in – in terms of equality, empathy, the things that I believe will help humans, more than criticism or aggression or genocide or terrorism – they’ve somehow become viral, negatively.”

He continued: “A group of people are angry because I want to love all people. I’m not angry at those people that are angry at me but I was starting to get a bit like, ‘Do I have to stop saying that we welcome people from all [places]?’”

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He added: “No, I’m never gonna stop that. And if that upsets people, well I love those people too. So I can’t do anything. It’s not an empty platitude – it’s a considered position from a group of people that have met more humans in history.”

Martin went on to further discuss the “emotional” red hearts moment at Wembley. The frontman said it had followed some “controversy for a viewpoint that is very uncontroversial”.

“I think when that happened at the end, it was almost like our audience understanding what we’re trying to say,” he concluded. See a clip of the conversation here:

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During a live show over the summer, Martin reacted to a crowd member holding up a Palestinian flag while shouting out fans from various countries. “Welcome from Palestine, always,” he said.

“We love all people so you’re welcome from everywhere, but 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 bullshit, OK?”

Later, the singer was accused of “dehumanising” two Israeli fans he invited on stage at Wembley Stadium. He told them (via the Standard): “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.

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