Elton John knows he's got the world's attention right now, as his well-reviewed biopic "Rocketman" lands in theaters and he plays his final world tour. But if you thought that he might tread carefully while discussing politics lest his comments hurt ticket sales to either, you guessed wrong.

During a Wednesday show in Verona, Italy, the United Kingdom-born singer/songwriter pulled a Dixie Chicks, telling the audience, "I'm ashamed of my country for what it has done" with Brexit, the United Kingdom's bungled, years-long attempt to divorce itself from the European Union.

In 2016, 51% of British citizens voted to leave the EU, the economic and political coalition of 28 European countries. The official divorce, was supposed to happen in March, however, Parliament has rejected Prime Minister Theresa May's proposed withdrawal agreement three times and in April, the timeline was extended through Halloween.

"I am sick to death of politicians, especially British politicians," he was quoted as saying by Britain's Guardian newspaper. "I am sick to death of Brexit. I am a European. I am not a stupid, colonial, imperialist English idiot.”

A potentially calamitous "no-deal" Brexit could cause serious damage to Britain's economy, and risks unleashing chaos on its borders as well as a public health crisis. And then there's its impact on immigration.

"It’s torn people apart," John, 72, said of Brexit.

John's words recalled those of Dixie Chicks singer Natalie Maines, who changed the trajectory of the country trio's careers when she criticized fellow Texan and then-commander-in-chief George W. Bush for the imminent war in Iraq.

During a concert in London on March 10, 2003, she told the crowd, “Just so you know, we’re on the good side with y’all. We do not want this war, this violence, and we’re ashamed that the president of the United States is from Texas.” (The U.S. military invaded Iraq 10 days later.)

At the time, Maines’ statement was enough to effectively halt the band’s career, with Nashville shunning the band, country stations banning them and listeners sending death threats.

It remains to be seen what kind of financial impact John's comments will have on his career, but immediate reaction has leaned toward the negative – and sometimes homophobic.

"I agree #EltonJohn but we can’t all afford to escape to another country to get away from it," wrote @itskatiebon, referencing the fact that John is no longer a full-time U.K. resident.

"Gone right off him now!" added @gala_borders. "Nothing worse than Ex pats criticizing us when they opted out. Just saying."

@MaraudingWinger took aim at John himself, tagging the singer's official account, @eltonofficial, in this tweet: "I am sick of fat, over-the-hill multi-millionaires calling me an imperialist, when he's supporting an outdated, 1950s model imperialist, expansionist empire."

Some on Twitter thought he had a point, however.

"To be fair Brexit has made Britain the laughing stock of the world, one which includes Donald Trump," wrote @AndyAytch. "How can something that was presented as simple as Remain or Leave be turned into such an utter (disaster)?"

Contributing: Maeve McDermott, Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY

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