Radiohead's Thom Yorke Walks Off Stage At Solo Show After Confronting Israel-Hamas War Heckler: 'See You Later'

Radiohead singer Thom Yorke walked off stage at his solo show in Melbourne, Australia on Wednesday night (October 30) after a fan shouted at him about the war between Israel and Hamas. According to fan footage of the incident at the Sidney Meyer Music Bowl, after the man yelled comments about the “Israeli genocide of Gaza” and made references to the deaths of children during the war between Israel and the militant group Hamas, Yorke stopped the show and challenged the person to say it face to face on stage.

“Come here and say it. Right here, come on,” said an audibly irritated Yorke as he stood on stage holding his acoustic guitar while some fans booed the fan, with one telling the person to “shut the fk up”.

“Get on the f–king stage and say what you want to say,” York continued. “Don't stand there like a coward, come here and say it. Want to p–s everyone’s night?”

After the person allegedly responded with another comment about the war in Gaza, Yorke appeared to have had enough and said, “Okay, you'll do it, see you later” and left the stage. According to The Guardianthe singer returned a few minutes later to play the final song of his set, Radiohead's 'Karma Police'.

Yorke is on the Everything tour, playing solo material as well as songs from Radiohead and spin-off group The Smile.

In 2017, Yorke defended Radiohead's decision to perform in Tel Aviv, Israel against critics who have called for a boycott of shows in the country due to the Israeli government's treatment of Palestinians. Yorke also criticized the BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) movement, saying that BDS prevents the necessary dialogue and cultural interactions that could create positive impact.

In June, Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood released a lengthy note in response to fresh criticism of his long-time collaboration with Israeli musician Dudu Tassa after the pair played a show in Israel in May amid the war that sparked the October 7. In 2023, massacre of more than 1,200 Israeli women, children and civilians during a raid by Hamas fighters, who also took more than 250 hostages.

In the assured war, Israeli forces have reportedly killed more than 42,000 Palestinians according to Palestinian authorities, while also laying waste to much of Gaza's infrastructure in a war that has now widened to include airstrikes in Iran and Lebanon.