In a rather strange and unexpected move, Coldplay frontman Chris Martin (pic) thanked concertgoers in India for forgiving the band for “all of the bad things Great Britain has done”.
Let’s just say, an indirect apology for colonialism from the Viva La Vida singer was not on our 2025 bingo cards.
During its performance in Mumbai, Martin said, “It’s amazing to us that you welcome us even though we are from Great Britain. Thank you for forgiving us for all of the bad things Great Britain has done.”
If you were literally born yesterday, the British Raj lasted approximately 89 years from 1858 to 1947, when England colonised the Indian subcontinent and imposed the British monarch’s rule in the region.
Seventy-eight years later, a pop singer from the colonising country is apologetic even though we doubt anyone in the audience, in their wildest fantasies, expected he would do this.
Coldplay concerts are known for its grandeur and fun vibes, and on this leg of the tour, Martin has definitely kept things interesting. Earlier, during a performance in the UAE, the band called a Pakistani woman on stage before performing Everglow, which Martin dedicated to the people in Pakistan, Gaza, the West Bank and Iran.
While that moment was sweet, this more recent thing from the Mumbai concert is screaming white guilt. As always, social media users had some hilarious reactions to his statement.
Of course, most people just wanted the Koh-i-Noor diamond back, one of the largest cut diamonds in the world which was found in the subcontinent and now rests on the Crown of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother (yes, that’s its full official name).
Another netizen demanded that he return “all the stolen items”.
Meanwhile, some people believed that the singer was “healing generational trauma”... which seemed a little far-fetched to us. Perhaps the occasional breakup trauma with his music, but intergenerational trauma? With an apology. Highly unlikely.
Another user questioned when the audience forgave them, given that Martin was thanking the concertgoers.
However, the best take was from the person asking for a “free concert next time as reparations”.
If that is the case, dear Chris let us remind you that Pakistan was part of the colonised Indian subcontinent and if your white guilt leads you to perform for free, then we should get a free concert too! Coldplay in Karachi, when? – Dawn/Asia News Network
