Members of Radiohead have been getting flak in the wake of Israel’s indiscriminate war crimes against the Palestinian people. But, like Israel’s continued occupation of Palestine, these critiques aren’t new: Radiohead have performed in Israel a few times, including one 2017 performance in Tel Aviv that many protested. But more recently, Jonny Greenwood — whose wife is Israeli artist Sharona Katan, a vocal supporter of the country’s military campaign — put out an album in 2023 with Israeli musician Dudu Tassa, which raised some eyebrows. And tonight, during his solo show in Melbourne, Thom Yorke walked offstage after getting heckled by a pro-Palestine protester.

It’s hard to tell what exactly the protester was yelling, but he did mention the Palestinian death toll, which some have estimated now exceeds 200,000. Yorke responded: “Don’t stand there like a coward, come here and say it. You wanna piss on everybody’s night? OK, you do. See you later, then.” He then took off his guitar and left the stage.

A little bit later, though, Yorke re-emerged to perform the set’s closing song, “Karma Police.” That’s fitting. See some audience clips below.

@makzym8 Melbourne night 2. Guy then got got by the Karma Police #radiohead #thomyorke #melbourne ♬ original sound – Maxim

Thom storming off stage in Melbourne from palestine protester
byu/hroutey inradiohead

@carbiewarbie For a minute there… THOM LOST HIS HEAD!!! After one DOUCHE-CANOE had a political rant, @thom yorke walked offstage but he eventually came back to perform this heavenly version of KARMA POLICE! One of my all time favourite @Radiohead songs at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl – Arts Centre Melbourne. #ThomYorke #Radiohead #SidneyMyerMusicBowl original sound –