Shawn Mendes "Hating Jews is not the answer to Gaza Heartbreak"

Canadian singer-songwriter Shawn Mendes, during his concert at the MEO Arena in Lisbon spoke publicly for the first time about the ongoing war in Gaza and the rise in antisemitism, expressing heartbreak over the situation while condemning hatred directed at Jewish people. The remarks, with divided reactions among fans and online communities, emphasized unity and breaking cycles of pain.

In a video clip from the event, Mendes told the audience: "What’s been happening in Gaza has been absolutely breaking my heart, and turning pain and suffering into hatred towards Jewish people as a whole is wrong. Turning pain and suffering into hatred, period, is wrong and it’s not the way." He added, "I really believe in our generation. I feel like it’s our generation’s job to learn from the wisdom of our parents and grandparents but also learn from the mistakes of those generations. The future is truly in our hands and I feel like it’s our responsibility to stop these cycles of pain and to choose love."

Mendes, who is not Jewish and has largely avoided political statements in his career, framed the comments around broader themes of empathy and generational responsibility. The speech occurred amid the Israel-Hamas war, now in its second year, which has seen a reported surge in antisemitic incidents globally, including in Europe and North America, according to organizations like the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the Community Security Trust. Mendes also expressed regret for not speaking out sooner about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, as noted in subsequent media coverage.

The remarks drew mixed responses. Some praised Mendes for addressing both the Gaza situation and antisemitism, viewing it as a balanced call for humanity. Others criticized the statement as vague or overly cautious, accusing it of avoiding direct criticism of Israel and prioritizing antisemitism over Palestinian suffering. On Reddit's r/Israel, users noted the crowd's enthusiastic reaction to mentions of Gaza but muted response to the antisemitism condemnation, highlighting polarized priorities. In r/popculture, discussions questioned the timing and focus, with some seeing it as a response to rising antisemitism amid the conflict.

Mendes, of Portuguese descent, also honored Portuguese soccer player Diogo Jota during the show, wearing a national team jersey in tribute. This was his first direct public comment on the Israel-Hamas war, though he has previously shown interest in Middle Eastern issues, such as attending a Muslim Friday prayer (Jumu'ah) at NYU in January 2025 with poet Mustafa the Poet. Earlier, in June 2020, Mendes shared a video via his updates account raising awareness about Israel's planned annexation of parts of Judea and Samaria urging support for Palestinians.

The statement aligns with a trend of celebrities navigating the conflict, including recent manifestations by artists like Marisa Liz in Portugal and international figures such as Damon Albarn and Roger Waters supporting Palestinian causes. Mendes has no reported history of direct engagement with Israel or Jewish communities beyond this speech, and his political stance has generally focused on personal and social issues rather than geopolitics.