Mike Dirnt, Billie Joe Armstrong, and Tre Cool of Green Day pose at the red carpet during the 67th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, US, Feb. 2, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Daniel Cole

Green Day frontman Billy Joe Armstrong draped an oversized Palestinian flag on his shoulder during the American rock band’s concert Wednesday night in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Armstrong was halfway through the band’s performance when a fan in the crowd tossed him a large Palestinian flag. Armstrong caught the flag and then placed it across his shoulder for the remainder of the song.

 

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The Grammy-winning band consists of Armstrong, drummer Tré Cool, and bass guitarist Mike Dirnt. Green Day has previously expressed support for Palestinians and reportedly showcased Palestinian flags in other concerts during its current world tour.

In their song “Peacemaker,” from the album “21st Century Breakdown,” Armstrong sings: “Well, call up the Gaza, hey, hey … Well, death to the ones at the end of the serenade.” In November 2024, Green Day was performing at the Corona Capital Festival in Mexico, and during their set Armstrong changed the lyrics of the song “Jesus of Suburbia” to show support for “Palestine.” The original lyrics are “From Anaheim to the Middle East,” but Amstrong instead sang, “From Palestine to the Middle East.”

Malaysia, a Muslim country, has no diplomatic relations or trading ties with Israel and has been a longtime critic of the Jewish state, including since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. Malaysia’s former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has said he is proud to be called an antisemite.