Singer dedicates song to Ukrainian army and citizens before shouting insult against Putin at Leipzig concert
Our Foreign Staff 16 June 2024
British pop star Sir Rod Stewart was booed at a concert in Germany while making a show of support for Ukraine in its war against Russia, German media reported on Sunday.
The singer paid tribute to Ukraine as he introduced the song “Rhythm of My Heart” at his sold-out concert in Leipzig on Friday, according to the Tag 24 news outlet.
Wearing the colours of the Ukrainian flag, he dedicated the song to the Ukrainian people and army before shouting an insult against Vladimir Putin, the Russian president.
As he performed the song, images of the war, Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, and the country’s flag were shown on the screen behind him.
The audience responded with loud boos and whistles, according to several media reports.
The singer has previously been vocal in his support for Ukraine and reportedly rented a house for Ukrainian refugees in Britain.
According to German media, his support for Ukraine had been well-received at previous concerts in Copenhagen and Amsterdam.
Germany has been a staunch backer of Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in February 2022.
Michael Roth, a foreign policy expert for Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s SPD, on Sunday called Sir Rod the “hero of the day”.
“Thanks for your solidarity with the Ukrainian people!” he wrote on X.
But public opinion remains split on the issue, with some fearing Germany’s backing for Kyiv could risk escalating the war while others resent the amount of money being spent on Ukraine.
German far-left and far-right parties that are opposed to the government’s backing for Ukraine both scored major gains in last week’s EU elections.
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I couldn’t show the videos as they are from X.
As usual, the far right/far left horseshoe is in action.
Comments from this article were swamped with gloating trolls, who should be locked up in a secure mental institution.
Selected comments from DT readers :
Carl Hewitt
Students of history will recall that Leipzig was formerly in East Germany, a Soviet Warsaw Pact satellite state. They tend still to like Russians in those parts, as Mutti Merkel might confirm.
Inna Counts
There are lots of Russians in Germany or German descendants who after split of Soviet Union returned to Germany to get there more comfortable life. Im Ukrainian and had classmate girl in school , in her 30th she with her entire family was able to return to Germany..All these years she kept in touch with some of her Ukrainian friends but when war starred we couldn’t believe what ridiculous reaction she had and how suddenly we became nazis and enemies for her ..She was fed into Russian propaganda. She never was a deep thinker , or someone who reads books , learns ..IN simple words , not intellectual.. So , she chose to belive lies and forgot how things really were .. I’m sure , lots of attendants of that concert sadly were just like her.. ..
Scott Driver
Don’t under-estimate Russia’s capacity to plant their stooges at events. The fact the place was sold out shows the vast majority support Ukraine as well as Rod.
P L Watson
Well done Rod – respect! Too many ex East Germans still supportive of Russia.
Mike Jones
Well done Rod, I have a great deal of respect for you.
Many Germans (like Merkel) are still pro Russian – just ignore them.
Marge Simpson
Some communists don’t want to fight for Germany and freedom, a minority indeed but their previous East German Chancellor was a communist Stasi sympathizer.
Jonny James
He should have walked off stage…why play to apologists of Putin, war mongering, aggression, child murder and abduction, rape, torture…the list goes on. Screw them Rod !
Toby Jug
The Germans are like sheep, frightened to death of the Russians and have been since the end of WW2.
They collectively suffer from Stockholm syndrome.
A person with the intellect of a maggot writes :
Christopher Meyer
I love Rod but he’s wrong on this. Kelensky was surely persuaded by NATO to seek membership which Russia cannot allow, much as USA did not allow Russian missiles in Cuba. We, the public, have been fooled and the West should seek peace, not take sides. We are prolonging the war and meanwhile many are being killed, Ukrainian and Russian while the military on both sides see it as a joust, a game.
Very good reply from :
Richard Salter
Reply to Christopher Meyer
My god how Ill-informed and childishly naive. Before commenting such rubbish you need to learn some history. It would also be useful not to blame a nation for a massive rival launching a murderous war against them in an effort to emulate Peter the Greats empire building.
On the subject of information Russians in Ukraine were settled by Stalin after purging the Cossacks and other indigenous Ukrainian people. This is not historical Russian land. What is going on is an attempted purge of language, culture and traditions to which you cannot bow down with any conscience.
Those who want peace should be demanding Russian withdrawal and full reparations with return of all Ukrainian children spirited away for ‘re-education’ and freeing of all Ukrainians being held prisoner. Then to give better peace and stability allowing a free sovereign nation to join whatever alliance its wishes.
Whilst this may upset a large nation used to influencing and bullying its smaller neighbours Russian bellicosity only had itself to blame for Finland and Sweden ending neutrality and applying for NATO membership – as did the Baltic states and other Eastern European nations freed from the Soviet yoke.
Leipzig is a place where both communists and Nazis feel comfortable. Rod’s lavish Ukraine tributes are well known; putinaZis could well have made block bookings in advance, to troll the concert.
Sir Rod will continue his work anyway. One of the relatively few entertainers who put their money where their mouth is, he has provided accommodation for two Ukrainian families.
His old mate Eric Clapton in contrast, is paying tribute to fucking Hamas at his shows. Prick.