During a sold-out show in Leipzig, Germany, British pop star Rod Stewart was met with boos and whistles after expressing his support for Ukraine. The audience reacted negatively to Stewart’s decision to wear the colors of the Ukrainian flag and insult Russian President Vladimir Putin while performing the song “Rhythm of My Heart.” Images of the war, the Ukrainian flag, and President Volodymyr Zelensky were shown on the screen behind him.
Despite previous positive reactions to his support for Ukraine in Copenhagen and Amsterdam, public opinion in Germany remains divided. Some fear that supporting Kiev could escalate the conflict, while others complain about the amount of money being spent on Ukraine. Germany’s far-left and far-right parties both oppose government support for Ukraine and saw significant gains in recent European elections.
The controversy surrounding Stewart’s performance sparked a flurry of unrelated online comments and links that did not directly relate to his actions or the audience reaction.
