00:01This is not usually how I would play from the show, but before I play some songs tonight, I hope
00:07it's okay if I say a few words about this last week.
00:14I'm used to my music being criticised, and I'm always happy to take that, because I'm lucky a lot of
00:20you like my stuff, and to be honest I'm not surprised that I feel normal.
00:26But this week the criticism was about something much more important, and I've had to take and make difficult decisions,
00:33and I am making mistakes, and I'm so, so sorry.
00:37I don't want to disappoint fans, and I've never wanted to be an activist musician, but this has put me
00:43in the middle of an important and passionate argument about freedom of speech and the most complex political issue on
00:49the planet.
00:57Our concerts have always been a safe space for everyone, and that matters hugely to me.
01:04Honouring my commitment to my fans is also completely central to who I am, and that is why I'm here
01:11tonight, on my own, and continuing my current tour.
01:21I am deeply worried about the idea that venues should pre-approved content performers. This happens in so many places
01:29that I perform around the world, but it should never happen in the free world.
01:37Now, I want to address the question of where I stand in the situation in Israel and Palestine, and whether
01:43my doing this concert here tonight implies where I stand.
01:46I have tried in my career not to be a political commentator of any kind, because I want my music
01:52and shows to be about unity, not division, about humanity, not politics.
02:01But, this is a humanitarian issue, and I cannot lie how I feel about it any more.
02:07What happened in Israel and at the known music festival on October 7th was horrific, and compounded centuries of Jewish
02:14pain.
02:15What is happening in Gaza is catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate. My heart has been broken by the scale of
02:25devastation and loss of civilians' lives, of children's lives.
02:30And the systemic injustice we're seeing unfold in the West Bank cannot be overlooked.
02:36I am already speaking to people across the spectrum to work out how to make the contribution that helps victims
02:41of these terrible times, and listening and learning, because I do not know enough.
02:48I honestly am so grateful for people who are here tonight with me.
03:01This concert is still a place where everyone is welcome, and everyone here can stand beside people that have opposing
03:08views, and everyone here can stand beside people that they don't agree with on everything, but they can all agree
03:14on singing these songs.
03:21And these songs are about love, hope, and unity.
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