Overview

• At the May 27 Milan show, frontman Dan Reynolds draped himself in a Palestinian flag and also waved a Ukrainian flag before tossing both to the crowd.
• Video of the gestures racked up millions of views and prompted both praise for solidarity and accusations of supporting terrorism.
• Critics including ACT for America chair Brigitte Gabriel and some Jewish fans accused the band of endorsing extremist causes.
• The band has long courted political expression, previously displaying Pride flags and advocating for LGBTQ+ rights on stage.
• Social media users compared the moment to Radiohead’s 2024 confrontation with an anti-Israel protester, intensifying debate over musicians’ political roles.