A viral video capturing two Israeli concertgoers facing a mix of booing and applause from Coldplay audience members has ignited a social media storm after the pair was called onstage during Sunday's Wembley Stadium performance and disclosed their nationality.
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Singer Chris Martin brought the two attendees, named Avia and Tal, onto the stage during the British band's show in London, and when he asked about their homeland, the women answered "Israel," triggering mixed reactions from the crowd while the performer showed visible unease at his piano.
"Okay, well listen – I'm very grateful that you're here as humans, and I am treating you as equal humans on earth, regardless of where you come from or don't come from," Martin told the audience. "Although it's controversial, maybe, I also want to welcome people in the audience from Palestine because… out of the belief that we're all equal humans," the singer added, drawing cheers from concertgoers.
"Thank you for being here, I'm very happy to see you, look at your beautiful green eyes," Martin said to one of the Israeli attendees.
Speaking with Israel's Kan public broadcaster, one woman admitted to feeling uncertain about taking the stage and revealing her Israeli identity to the enormous crowd.
"There was a split second that we considered saying we are from Malta, and then I said 'Israel,'" she told the broadcaster. "We couldn't and didn't want to lie. It was a bit scary that 90,000 people know we are from Israel, but we said it."
Martin has been heavily scrutinized on social media after the video went viral for his "politically correct" response. "Chris Martin, what the hell was this?" Jewish philanthropist Ari Ackerman said in an Instagram video. "Are you saying you're happy to see these two women despite their nationality? Are you saying it's controversial to simply be a citizen of Israel? Are Israelis supposed to be grateful you see them as humans?"
My wife and I, both Israeli, have been avid fans of @coldplay for two decades, traveling around the world to see them in concert several times. That's why this slip up by Chris Martin at Wembley Stadium is especially hurtful.
When two young Israeli fans joined him on stage Chris… pic.twitter.com/ozbWh2QNr0
— Yaron Samid 🇮🇱🇺🇸🎗️ (@yaronsamid) September 1, 2025
"This was a tactless misstep that further tears people apart and deeply hurts some of your most loyal fans. I hope you can take a quiet moment to look back at your choice of words and realize they came from a place of growing prejudice against Israeli people that have been drawn into a war they never asked for," Yaron Samid, an avid Coldplay fan, wrote in an X post that has received over 200,000 views.
Since Hamas' October 7, 2023 massacre sparked the Gaza war, Coldplay performances have periodically become sites of discourse surrounding the Middle Eastern conflict, especially during European tours.
At a July show this year, Martin highlighted an Israeli flag held by fans while mentioning he had seen a Palestinian flag at the prior night's concert.
During that summer performance, Martin said, "Yesterday, we had a beautiful Palestinian flag, today we have an Israeli flag. So we welcome all people. Thank you, my brothers and sisters. It makes me happy that both groups can come."
