Sam Fender has sparked outrage after he halted his concert to deliver a pro-Palestine statement.
During his performance at London’s Olympic Stadium on Friday, the singer-songwriter made a direct appeal to his audience about the humanitarian crisis.
Before performing his song Hypersonic Missiles, Fender explained that he wrote the track in 2018, referencing children being bombed in Gaza.
He said: “It breaks my heart and it’s probably more relevant now than it was then.”
Fender also acknowledged the presence of medical charity Doctors Without Borders at the event, describing them as “legitimate real heroes who are out there helping the people.”
SAM FENDER SAYS FREE PALESTINE to 80,000 concert goers at the Olympic Stadium pic.twitter.com/6BAiHIQiI7
— Stephen Smith (@SteveNickSmith) June 6, 2025
He encouraged concertgoers to scan a QR code to support Palestine, stating: “They’re being subjected to a genocide and it has to stop and we need to do everything that we can. Free Palestine!”
His remarks were met with loud cheers from thousands of concertgoers, but reactions online were more divided, with many taking to social media to voice their disappointment.
One user on X wrote, “I hate it when they go political,” while another added, “I’m a big fan of Sam Fender, but sadly he’s oblivious of Hamas and Iran’s evil ways.”
A third commented: “Perhaps he could join Greta [Thunberg]. They would be a good combo.”
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Sam Fender performed in London last night
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Another user expressed outrage, writing: “F***ing p***k. Walked out. What about the hostages!”
A fifth added: “Spoilt a f***ing great show,” while a sixth wrote: “It’s political nonsense. Keep politics out of music.”
However, Fender also received praise and support from fans who applauded his stance.
One wrote: “Thank you for using your platform to get this across. Free Palestine.” Another simply said: “This was really important to me.”
Many fans supported Fender's actions
GETTY
This comes as Fender has emerged as a prominent voice in the music industry's support for Palestine.
In November 2023, Fender joined over 1,000 artists in signing the "Music For A Ceasefire" open letter, initiated by the Peace & Justice Project.
This letter called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, an end to the bombardment of Palestinian territories, and the delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians.
Other notable signatories included Declan McKenna, The Libertines, Paloma Faith, and Rag'n'Bone Man.
In his 2019 song Hypersonic Missiles, Fender reflected on global conflict and personal detachment with the lyrics: “God bless America and all of its allies / I’m not the first to live with wool over my eyes / I am so blissfully unaware of everything / Kids in Gaza are bombed, and I’m just out of it.”
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