Metallica frontman James Hetfield slams artists pushing bullst political agendas at concerts

Metallica frontman James Hetfield is calling out performers who bring political agendas to the stage.During Metallica’s show at the Las Vegas Sphere on Saturday night, the 63-year-old musician took a moment to express his gratitude to fans who traveled to see the heavy metal band and blasted entertainers who turn concerts into political platforms.“Unless you live in Vegas, you’ve come a long way to spend some time with Metallica,” he said in a video shared on YouTube.“We’re grateful for that — your travels, the money you spend, the time it took, thanks for coming to celebrate with us.”“I just gotta say, Metallica is not here, like some other entertainers, to influence you with their bulls—, OK?,” Hetfield continued as the audience clapped and cheered.“We are here … no bulls— … we’re here to forget about all the outside s—, OK?” he added.

“Metallica’s agenda is love, energy and heavy music, baby!”Although Hetfield did not name any artists, several musicians have recently made political statements during their concerts.Last month, Macklemore was dropped from his remaining scheduled performances on Ed Sheeran’s “Loop Tour” after the rapper repeatedly called for a “Free Palestine” and performed his pro-Palestinian protest song “Hind’s Hall” while opening for the “Shape of You” singer at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.At the time, Macklemore said Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, told Sheeran that the “Thrift Shop” hitmaker “would not be allowed” to perform at the stadium.Kraft later confirmed that he opposed Macklemore performing at Gillette Stadium, citing the rapper’s “recent actions” and what he called a “broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery.”Following Macklemore’s removal, all of Sheeran’s remaining opening acts and supporting musicians, including Finneas, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe and Beo...