Latest news with #DanReynolds
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Imagine Dragons waves Palestinian flag and shows off LGBTQ-themed guitar at the Milan concert; gains mixed reaction from the internet
Imagine Dragons, the popular American pop band, has sparked controversy after the lead singer kissed a Palestinian flag during the concert on May 27 in Milan, which was part of their Loom tour. What happened with Imagine Dragons in Milan? Dan Reynolds, donning a pair of black pants, waved the Palestinian flag and draped himself with it at the end of the concert as the band addressed the audience. As the band bowed down, Dan went back to the centre stage, grabbed the flag off his shoulder, and threw it after kissing the quadri-coloured flag. However, the gestures quickly grabbed the attention of the internet, gaining mixed reactions. Some of the users perceived the gesture as a means of solidarity, where they supported him, while others condemned the act, citing that Dan supports terrorism. What was the internet's reaction? One user stated on X, 'Imagine Dragons" band ended their concert by waving the Palestinian flag, a flag that represents murdering babies and r–ing women. They're openly showing solidarity with TERRORISTS. Unbelievable.' While another user stated, 'ok even though they make terrible music (that ironically feels israeli on a spiritual level) I'll hand it to imagine dragons this one time' A third wrote, 'Very Nice to See More People Showing Support The Imagine Dragons Band Ended Their Concert by Waving the Palestinian Flag.' A LGBTQ-themed guitar ... Along with the Palestinian flag, the bass player of Imagine Dragons proudly showed off his transgender flag-themed guitar. One user stated, 'I rted this video before but didn't see the trans guitar too im gonna stream imagine dragons they deserve it I think.' While another user pointed out, 'This video proves how truly stupid celebrities are. You've got the imagine dragon guy with a Palestine flag and some other dude with a trans flag guitar, in complete ignorance that trans people would be slaughtered mercilessly there. Amazing.' Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Watch: Imagine Dragons' Dan Reynolds kisses Palestinian flag on stage, sparks firestorm
Imagine Dragons' Dan Reynolds sparks firestorm after kissing Palestinian flag on stage Imagine Dragons lead singer Dan Reynolds has ignited a fierce online backlash after kissing a Palestinian flag on stage during the band's May 27 performance in Milan, part of their Loom World Tour. Reynolds, shirtless and visibly emotional, draped himself in the flag during the show's closing moments, waving it before tens of thousands of cheering fans and planting a kiss on it. The act, captured in multiple fan videos, immediately sparked mixed reactions across social media, with some hailing it as a bold statement of solidarity and others condemning it as a political provocation. Outrage and accusations Critics slammed Reynolds' move, accusing the band of aligning with extremism. Brigitte Gabriel, chairman of ACT for America, posted on X, "It looks like the band Imagine Dragons supports terrorism." Other users voiced similar sentiments, interpreting the flag display as a betrayal. "I actually really liked Imagine Dragons, but now it seems they genuinely hate my people. It's disgusting how people still view Palestine as a moral virtue when it's all a myth," one pro-Israel fan wrote. One particularly heated post accused the band of hypocrisy for advocating LGBTQ+ rights while allegedly supporting a territory where such rights are not protected, "Imagine Dragons ends their concert by waving their solidarity with TERRORISTS. They just called for the deaths of all gay people — and their music career." Support from pro-Palestinian fans Despite the backlash, many fans applauded the gesture. "Very nice to see more people showing support,' one Palestinian X-user wrote. Another viral post described the moment as a 'powerful gesture.' Comedian Matt Lieb chimed in with a tongue-in-cheek comment, 'Omg Radiohead has now been lapped by IMAGINE DRAGONS?!?' — referencing Thom Yorke's decision to walk off stage after a confrontation with an anti-Israel protestor last year. A complicated history This isn't the first time Imagine Dragons has found itself in the middle of the Israel-Palestine debate. The band previously faced criticism from pro-Palestinian activists for performing in Tel Aviv on August 29, 2023, just weeks before the October 7th Hamas attacks that escalated regional tensions. That same Milan concert also featured Reynolds waving a Ukrainian flag earlier in the evening, adding to the politically symbolic performance.
Daily Mail
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Chart-topping rock band sparks major backlash after waving Palestinian flag on stage
Imagine Dragons is facing major backlash after frontman Dan Reynolds triumphantly waved a Palestinian flag on stage during a recent concert in Milan. The American rock band - known for hits like 'Radioactive' and 'Demons' - was performing at the I-Days Festival when Reynolds held the flag aloft and draped it over his shoulders before kissing it before tossing it into the crowd. The moment quickly went viral, sparking immediate outrage and igniting a storm of condemnation on social media. 'Disgusting and shameful,' wrote one user on X, formerly Twitter. 'It looks like the band "Imagine Dragons" supports terrorism,' said ACT for America Chairman Brigitte Gabriel. 'Imagine Dragons ends their concert by waving their solidarity with TERRORISTS. They're calling for " gay rights" and "free Palestine."' another user wrote. 'Essentially, they just called for the deaths of all gay people - and their music career.' Many accused the band of politicizing a music event and showing bias in the ongoing and deeply contentious Israeli-Palestinian conflict. 'Disgusting. Why can't performers just stick to performing?' one person asked. 'Politics and music have no place together,' another commented. 'Musicians should stick to their music. Mixing politics with music is unnecessary,' wrote another user on X. Critics also pointed to the band's past controversies. In 2023, Imagine Dragons faced criticism for performing in Israel and Azerbaijan, in August 2023, before the October 7 Hamas terror attacks. Reynolds later defended the band's decisions, saying he didn't want to punish fans for the actions of governments. 'I don't believe in depriving our fans who want to see us play because of the acts of their leaders and their governments. I think that's a really slippery slope,' Reynolds told Rolling Stone in July 2024. 'I think the second you start to do that, there's corrupt leaders and warmongers all over the world, and where do you draw the line?' Now, critics argue the Milan gesture contradicts that stance. 'He said he doesn't play politics with fans -but that flag is politics,' one commenter posted. Others demanded an apology, with some threatening to boycott future concerts or delete the band's music. 'I deleted their entire library today. Even some collabs with other artists,' one user wrote. 'This will hopefully lead to a serious fan base cut,' commented another. Still, not all the response was negative, pro-Palestinian advocates and many international fans praised the act as a show of solidarity amid the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Imagine Dragons was 'applauded worldwide' for the gesture, with some calling it 'one of the bravest acts by a mainstream artist,' the Daily Times reported. 'You just gained a lifelong fan,' one supporter commented. Another added, 'They stood up for human rights when others stayed silent.' Bassist Ben McKee also used the stage to promote LGBTQ+ causes, playing a guitar painted with the transgender pride flag and a heart in the style of the gay pride flag on its back, video showed. As of now, neither Reynolds nor the band has issued a formal statement on the controversy.
New York Post
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Imagine Dragons frontman kisses Palestinian flag at Milan concert sparking social media frenzy
Lead singer of pop-rock band 'Imagine Dragons' kissed the Palestinian flag on stage during a concert in Milan sparking social media controversy amongst fans across the world. A shirtless Dan Reynolds draped himself in the politically-charged pennant while taking his final bows with bandmates on May 27 during the band's Milan stop on their Loom World Tour. The frontman held up the flag to cheering fans — waving it for the tens of thousands of Italian attendees — then kissing the flag in a gesture that drew ire from many on social media. 3 Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds displaying the Palestinian flag. @JimmyJ4thewin/X Advertisement 'It looks like the band 'Imagine Dragons' supports terrorism,' ACT for America Chairman Brigitte Gabriel wrote on X. 'I actually really liked Imagine Dragons, but now it seems they genuinely hate my people. It's disgusting how people still view Palestine as a moral virtue when it's all a myth,' one user wrote on X. 3 Reynolds and Imagine Dragons guitarist Dwayne Sermon taking their bows on May 27 equipped with the Palestinian flag. @JimmyJ4thewin/X Advertisement 'Imagine Dragons ends their concert by waving their solidarity with TERRORISTS. They're calling for 'gay rights' and 'free Palestine.' Essentially, they just called for the deaths of all gay people — and their music career,' another angry pro-Israel user wrote. Bassist Ben McKee also used the stage to promote a pet cause — displaying a guitar painted like the transgender pride flag which had a heart painted in the style of a gay pride flag on its back, video showed. 3 Reynolds prior to taking his shirt off at the May 27 concert in Milan, Italy. However, many pro-Palestinian fans applauded the band's political stance Advertisement One viral pro-Palestinian post applauded the 'powerful gesture.' A Palestinian X-user wrote, 'Very nice to see more people showing support.' 'Omg Radiohead has now been lapped by IMAGINE DRAGONS?!?,' Stand-up comedian Matt Lieb wrote in another viral X post, in reference to Radiohead lead singer Thom Yorke walking off stage last year when confronted by an anti-Israel protestor. Advertisement Imagine Dragons previously drew the ire of anti-Israel factions by performing in the country. On August 29, 2023, roughly one month before the October 7th Massacre, the American band performed a concert at Yarkon Park in Tel Aviv despite calls for them to cancel the show. Earlier in the performance, Reynolds, still without a shirt, paraded around the stage with a Ukrainian flag, video showed.
Sinar Daily
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Sinar Daily
Imagine Dragons' Dan Reynolds drapes Palestinian flag in gesture of solidarity
Reynolds was seen holding the flag high before placing it around his shoulders. By DANIAL HAKIM 29 May 2025 12:06pm In a moment captured by fans and now viral across social media platforms like TikTok, X, and Instagram, Reynolds was seen holding the flag high before placing it around his shoulders. Photo: Instagram/@motaz_azaiza IMAGINE Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds draped a Palestinian flag over his shoulders during a concert in Milan this week, an unexpected act that ignited massive applause and marked a significant turning point in the band's relationship with the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Imagine Dragons' performance on Tuesday night in Milan, a Palestinian flag tossed onto the stage found its way into the hands of lead vocalist Dan a moment captured by fans and now viral across social media platforms like TikTok, X, and Instagram, Reynolds was seen holding the flag high before placing it around his crowd roared in support, and the band embraced the crowd and carried on playing with the flag draped across his back, a clear visual show of solidarity with the people of videos have since been amplified by prominent Pro-Palestinian accounts including @humantiproject, award-winning photojournalist Motaz Azaiza, and @ shares helped spread the image globally, earning the band praise for acknowledging the suffering in Gaza, something they had previously avoided addressing act stood in stark contrast to the band's earlier stance on performing in politically contentious regions. In 2023, Imagine Dragons and frontman Dan Reynolds faced criticism for proceeding with concerts in Tel Aviv and Azerbaijan, despite calls from fellow artists and human rights advocates to cancel the shows. Photo: Instagram/@imaginedragons In 2023, Imagine Dragons faced criticism for proceeding with concerts in Tel Aviv and Azerbaijan, despite calls from fellow artists and human rights advocates to cancel the shows.'I don't believe in depriving our fans who want to see us play because of the acts of their leaders and their governments. I think that's a really slippery slope.'I think the second you start to do that, there's corrupt leaders and warmongers all over the world, and where do you draw the line?'I think I just said it. It's a slippery slope, and I'm never going to deprive our fans of playing for them,' Reynolds said, defending the band's decision in a 2024 interview with Rolling those comments stirred backlash, his recent gesture on stage suggests a potential re-evaluation or at least a willingness to publicly acknowledge the plight of Palestinians during a time of growing global awareness. For supporters of the Palestinian cause, the image of Reynolds wrapped in the flag was a rare moment of visibility—a reminder that their voices are being heard and amplified on some of the world's biggest stages. Photo: Canva Imagine Dragons now joins a fast-growing list of international artists who have taken a visible stance in support of this year, punk rock veterans Green Day made headlines when they boldly changed the lyrics of their song Jesus of Suburbia, delivering a powerful and emotional message about Palestine during their set at Coachella, a move that was equally met with both praise and critique, but undeniably sparked moments point to a rising trend in the music industry, where remaining silent or neutral on humanitarian issues is increasingly seen as a form of mounting pressure from fans, journalists, and advocacy groups, artists are rethinking their roles not just as entertainers, but as influential voices with the power to shape public significance of Reynolds' action goes beyond mere a cultural landscape where many celebrities still shy away from speaking out, especially on issues as polarising as the Palestinian genocide, this moment stood showed a willingness to listen, to evolve, and to engage with the realities faced by people under occupation and videos from Gaza continue to flood the internet, thanks to the tireless work of journalists like Motaz Azaiza and grassroots humanitarian projects, public awareness is growing at a rapid pace.
