Radiohead’s Thom Yorke walks off stage after being heckled by pro-Palestinian protester | CNN

During his solo performance in Melbourne, Australia, on Wednesday, Thom Yorke, the lead singer of Radiohead, put down his guitar and walked off the stage after receiving heckling from a pro-Palestinian demonstrator.

In videos shared on social media, you can hear a concert attendee calling out to the stage at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, expressing concern about the increasing number of deaths in Gaza and referring to it as "the genocide of Gaza by Israel."

The demonstrator questions Yorke, “How can you remain quiet” when there’s so much turmoil happening?

Yorke responds, "Come up here and say that to my face. Right here, on this stage. Go ahead, step up and express what you want to say."

He gestured towards the heckler and said, "Don't just stand there being a coward. Come over here and say it to my face."

"Seriously? Are you really going to ruin everyone's evening? Seriously," Yorke responds, then continues, "Alright, I guess you are. Catch you later."

Yorke exited the stage for a while but came back later to sing Radiohead's 1997 hit "Karma Police," as noted in various social media updates.

CNN has reached out to Arts Centre Melbourne, the organization that manages the venue, for a statement.

Radiohead has faced criticism for choosing to perform in Tel Aviv. In 2017, the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement encouraged the band to avoid playing in Israel due to the country’s actions in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

At that time, the group Radiohead Fans for Palestine released public letters asking the British rock band to cancel their performance, stating, "Palestinians often face demolition of their homes and loss of their land. They are subjected to imprisonment, violence, and even death."

The BDS group has urged the band to call off their concert featuring former Pink Floyd lead singer Roger Waters and British filmmaker Ken Loach, asking Yorke to rethink his position.

The band, however, turned down the invitation, with Yorke stating, "Performing in a country doesn't mean supporting its government," emphasizing that music is meant for "breaking down barriers, not creating them."