Overview

• At Coldplay’s Sept. 12 London show, Martin invited fans to raise their hands and send love to anyone in need, explicitly naming Charlie Kirk’s family and urging compassion even for people audiences may disagree with.
• Online reaction was sharply divided, with critics faulting the shout‑out for elevating a conservative figure and supporters praising a nonpolitical call for empathy across social platforms.
• Kirk, a Turning Point USA co‑founder, was fatally shot on Sept. 10 while speaking at Utah Valley University, and police later arrested 22‑year‑old Tyler Robinson in connection with the killing.
• A public memorial is scheduled for Sept. 21 in Arizona, and President Donald Trump is slated to attend, according to recent event plans.
• Adding context to the scrutiny, Kirk had criticized Coldplay in July, telling his audience he would rather be caught dead than attend one of the band’s concerts.