By Jared Evan

Rock band Imagine Dragons lit up more than just the stage this week—igniting a political firestorm after lead singer Dan Reynolds waved a Palestinian flag during a concert in Milan, Italy. The moment, captured on video and shared widely on social media, showed Reynolds kissing the flag, draping it over his shoulders, and tossing it back into the crowd at the show’s close.

The clip racked up millions of views within hours, drawing praise from pro-Palestinian activists and outrage from Jewish fans and pro-Israel voices. Some hailed it as a “powerful gesture” of solidarity with Gaza. Others slammed it as a tone-deaf move amid a conflict launched by Hamas’ October 7 massacre in southern Israel, which killed 1,200 and saw hundreds kidnapped.

“It looks like the band ‘Imagine Dragons’ supports terrorism,” posted Brigitte Gabriel, chair of ACT for America. One Jewish fan, identifying as the grandchild of Holocaust survivors, accused the band of “waving their solidarity with terrorists.”

Reynolds, long known for supporting LGBTQ rights, also waved a Progress Pride flag and a Ukrainian flag during the same show—raising eyebrows at the seeming contradiction between advocating for LGBTQ rights and appearing to support a cause associated with deeply anti-gay regimes like Hamas.

Pro-Israel Artists Speak Out

The backlash comes amid a broader cultural reckoning in the music industry, where artists are increasingly taking sides in the Israel-Gaza conflict—some with clarity, others with controversy.

At the forefront of pro-Israel voices is Gene Simmons, the KISS frontman and Israeli-born rock icon. Simmons has fiercely defended Israel’s military response and denounced what he sees as celebrity hypocrisy and selective outrage. “Hamas is a death cult,” he posted, urging fans not to confuse Palestinian civilians with the terror group governing Gaza.

Jewish-American artist Matisyahu has also remained a consistent supporter of Israel, performing songs about Jewish identity and resilience while condemning antisemitism. He’s called out fellow musicians for “abandoning truth for clicks,” warning that anti-Israel narratives are empowering hatred under the guise of activism.

Morrissey, the controversial former frontman of The Smiths, has publicly criticized the media’s portrayal of Israel and condemned Western artists who, in his words, “fall over themselves to placate terrorists.”

Morrissey’s public support for Israel is well documented and stretches back over 10 years. In 2008, he rejected BDS demands to cancel a concert in Tel Aviv, defiantly performing and ending his show by saying “God Bless Israel.”

Anti-Israel Messaging on the Rise

Conversely, several prominent artists have embraced language critics describe as blatantly anti-Israel—going beyond pro-Palestinian advocacy into what some call Hamas-aligned rhetoric.

Kehlani, an R&B artist with a massive online following, has posted content accusing Israel of genocide, apartheid, and mass murder—often without mentioning Hamas or the October 7 attack. Her critics say she’s spreading misinformation and inflaming antisemitic sentiment online, while supporters defend her stance as speaking out for oppressed people.

Others like Macklemore, Noname, and Talib Kweli have echoed similar narratives, amplifying calls to boycott Israel and accusing Zionism of being inherently violent.

Walking the Line: Voices in the Middle

Some artists have tried to navigate the middle ground—acknowledging the complexity of the conflict and calling for peace without fully aligning with either camp.

David Draiman, frontman of Disturbed and an Israeli-American, denounced Hamas early on but also expressed sorrow for innocent lives lost in Gaza. He’s been vocal about the increase in antisemitism worldwide but cautioned against demonizing entire populations.

Thom Yorke of Radiohead famously rebuked an anti-Israel heckler during a performance last year, challenging the simplistic framing of the conflict. His defense of the band’s decision to play in Israel drew both praise and protest from activist groups.

Thom Yorke,  has carved out a middle-ground stance—criticizing both Israeli leadership and Hamas while rejecting pressure to pick a side. In a recent Instagram post, Yorke addressed the toll that public demands had taken on his mental health, saying his prior silence was misconstrued as complicity. He condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his “crew of extremists,” accusing them of exploiting grief and fear to push an ultranationalist agenda. Yet Yorke also denounced Hamas, questioning why it carried out the atrocities of October 7 and why it continues to hold hostages, accusing the group of hiding behind the suffering of Palestinians for political gain. While some praised his effort to bring nuance to a polarized debate, others criticized it as “centrist,” proving that even balanced positions are now lightning rods in the cultural war.

A Divided Stage

With the Israel-Hamas war continuing to polarize public opinion, the music world finds itself more entangled than ever in the geopolitics of the Middle East. For many fans, the divide isn’t just ideological—it’s personal.

Imagine Dragons’ flag moment in Milan is now more than a viral clip; it’s a flashpoint in a larger cultural battle playing out on global stages and social feeds alike. And as lines harden, one thing is clear: silence is no longer an option for many of music’s biggest names—even if speaking out means alienating fans on either side.