During a gig in Germany, Rod Stewart was booed by fans after saluting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The British musician projected the Ukrainian flag on the large screen during his performance at Leipzig’s Quarterback Immobilien Arena on June 14th. Fan footage from the event recorded the crowd reaction as loud boos ensued from fans when images of Zelensky were displayed on the screen. Despite this reaction, Stewart went on to perform his 1991 track ‘Rhythm of My Heart’, which he considers an anti-war song and has dedicated to Kyiv at past concerts.
Stewart has been an avid supporter of Ukraine since Russia invaded the country in 2022. In addition to supporting the Ukrainian people throughout the conflict, such as by arranging for supplies to be sent to the country and renting a house in the UK for a Ukrainian family, he employs two Ukrainians as part of his touring crew. Speaking to the PA news agency, Stewart stated, “yes, I do support Zelensky and the people of Ukraine, and I will continue to do so.” He also believes that Putin must be stopped.
In unrelated news, earlier this year, Rod Stewart sold his back catalogue for nearly £100 million ($140 million). The British music legend reached an accord with Irving Azoff’s Iconic Artists, ceding ownership of his publishing catalogue and recorded music, and relinquishing a percentage of his likeness and image rights.
Stewart’s concert in Germany may have elicited boos from the crowd, but the legendary artist maintains his support for Ukraine. Despite the reaction, he remained dedicated to producing an energetic performance and entertaining the German audience, relishing his role in sharing cherished memories with his fans
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