At a recent solo concert in Melbourne, Radiohead and The Smile frontman Thom Yorke found himself in a heated exchange with a woke heckler protesting his stance on the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict. The audience member loudly condemned Yorke for “remaining silent” on Gaza's rising death toll, challenging him mid-performance. Yorke, known for his outspoken views, didn’t back down, inviting the heckler to “come up on stage and say what you want to say” rather than “piss on everybody’s night.” Yorke then briefly left the stage but later returned, diving into Radiohead’s iconic song “Karma Police.”
Yorke’s interactions with pro-Palestine critics aren’t new. Back in 2017, he faced backlash for performing in Tel Aviv, a decision that sparked controversy. Yorke defended the performance, asserting that playing in a country doesn’t equate to endorsing its government’s actions.
The criticism has also extended to Yorke’s bandmate, Jonny Greenwood, who recently collaborated with Israeli artist Dudu Tassa. The partnership drew ire from the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement, accusing Greenwood of “artwashing” by performing in Israel. Greenwood, however, emphasized his commitment to fostering dialogue through music and questioned the effectiveness of silencing artists based solely on nationality.
This incident highlights the ongoing debate over art, activism, and freedom of expression, with Yorke and Greenwood standing by their belief that music can bridge divides—even amid one of the world’s most polarizing conflicts.
