Imagine Dragons — Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds ignited a firestorm of reactions online after he draped a Palestinian flag over his shoulders during the band’s recent concert in Milan.
The moment, captured on video and widely shared across social media platforms, has reopened discussions around the band’s earlier decision to perform in Tel Aviv amid pro-Palestinian boycott calls.
During Tuesday night’s show, a fan tossed a Palestinian flag onto the stage. Reynolds, in a move that drew both applause from the crowd and criticism online, picked it up, held it aloft, and then wore it around his shoulders as he continued performing.
The act was met with cheers inside the venue, but triggered sharp debate outside of it—especially given the band’s controversial performance in Israel less than a year ago.
In 2023, Imagine Dragons defied calls from human rights groups and activists, including Holocaust survivor and author Dr. Gabor Maté, who had urged the band to cancel their concert in Tel Aviv due to concerns over Israel’s treatment of Palestinians.
Nevertheless, the group went ahead and played before a crowd of 60,000 at Yarkon Park. Reynolds addressed the criticism in a 2024 Rolling Stone interview, defending the choice: “I don’t believe in depriving our fans of seeing us just because of the actions of their leaders and governments… It’s a very slippery slope.”
The Milan flag gesture, however, has brought that decision back into the spotlight, with critics accusing the band of sending mixed signals. Some viewed Reynolds’ move as a show of solidarity with Palestinians, while others saw it as performative or contradictory given the band’s refusal to boycott Israel.
The tension surrounding artist performances in Israel has grown more intense since the outbreak of the Swords of Iron conflict in October 2023. Musicians like Robbie Williams, who also performed in Tel Aviv last year, similarly faced backlash but defended their decisions by citing personal or artistic principles.
Imagine Dragons, known for their chart-topping hits and global fan base, now find themselves at the intersection of music and geopolitical debate. Reynolds’ symbolic gesture in Milan may have pleased the crowd in the moment, but it has left fans—and critics—questioning where the band truly stands.