A Coldplay concert at London’s Wembley Stadium on Sunday took an unusual turn when two Israeli women were invited on stage by lead singer Chris Martin, prompting a divided reaction from the crowd.
The women, identified only as Avia and Yael, responded “Israel” when Martin asked where they were from. The crowd of about 90,000 reacted with both applause and boos.
Martin, who has previously visited Israel, thanked them for attending. “I’m very grateful that you’re here, as human, and I’m treating you as equal humans on earth, regardless of where you come from, or don’t come from,” he told them.
He added a message for others in the audience. “Although it’s controversial maybe, I also want to welcome people in the audience from Palestine. Because we have a belief that we’re all equal humans.”
In an interview with Israeli broadcaster Kan 11, the two women said they briefly considered giving a different answer when asked about their nationality. “For a quarter of a second we thought of saying Malta,” one recalled. “But then I said Israel. We couldn’t and didn’t want to lie. It’s a little scary that 90,000 people knew we’re from there, but we said it.”
Since the start of the war in Gaza, Coldplay’s shows in Europe and beyond have become moments for political expression linked to the Israel-Palestinian conflict. At recent concerts in Greece, which drew thousands of Israelis, audience members chanted for the release of hostages held in Gaza. One child was seen holding a sign commemorating an IDF officer killed on Oct. 7.