

Coldplay in 2008. (Stephan Craneanscki)

Until now.

Yesterday, Coldplay posted a a link to a “Freedom for Palestine” video by the band OneWorld that featured lyrics like ‘it could be you and your family/forced from your home and your history,’ and images of Israeli army checkpoints and the security fence, angering a large number of its Jewish and pro-Israel fanbase.

Within less than a day, there were 12,000 comments on their post, including promises to boycott the band and a Facebook group that demanded an apology to Israel.

Anti-Israeli fans also posted comments to support Palestine, such as “Zionism is racism” and “Israel is an apartheid state.”

Coldplay’s sound has been influenced by a number of political bands, such as U2, Filter, and Radiohead, but until now, the band has kept their songs and statements largely apolitical.

Yesterday, Glenn Beck responded to the song on his Fox News channel show, calling it “propaganda” and saying it was “important to look evil in the eye.” Beck then began to cry. Comedian Mark Thomas and musician Billy Bragg, however, gave the song their ringing endorsement.

After some Facebook users reported the URL to the song as “abusive,” the link was blocked by Facebook. But OneWorld quickly created a new site here.

Watch the video of “Free Palestine” below.