Disturbed frontman David Draiman has gone after the 2026 GRAMMY Awards crowd for what he sees as a glaring moral failure, plenty of speeches, plenty of grandstanding, and not a single high profile moment for Iran.
On Monday (February 2nd), Draiman posted a video calling out fellow musicians and celebrities who took the stage during the 68th annual GRAMMY Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday night (February, 1st).
While he’s been a lightning rod for years due to his vocal support of Israel amid the war in Gaza, this time his frustration is aimed elsewhere. In his words, the room had energy for causes, but none for what he describes as the “Iran massacre”.
Iran has seen escalating protests in recent months, with people pushing back against the Islamic Republic government, its policies, and worsening economic pressure. Reports have alleged mass killings in crackdowns that followed, alongside internet blackouts and accusations of coverups, the situation has continued to fuel international tension, particularly between Iranian officials and Western governments.
Draiman’s point wasn’t subtle, he framed the silence at the GRAMMYs as selective activism, the kind that looks good under stage lights but disappears when the issue is harder to package.
Here’s what Draiman said in his video (transcribed by theprp.com):
“Good morning, everyone.
I was disappointed, to say the least, after watching the GRAMMY Awards last night — and there were many great moments and many great performances.
I was disappointed that not a single person decided to say anything about what’s happening in Iran, about the Iran massacre. About the fact that tens of thousands of innocent people have been slaughtered, shot after their protests in hospital beds, hunted down, mercilessly, repressed.
You are supposed to be against repression. You are supposed to be for freedom. You are supposed to be for human rights, right? Well, the Iranian people deserve your compassion. They deserve your concern. They deserve your focus, and you gave them none of it, and it’s embarrassing for all of you. I’m not arguing against your respective causes, I’m not even voicing my opinion on them. Everyone’s entitled to a voice. Everyone’s entitled to an opinion. But why? Why wasn’t there a single voice on behalf of the Iranian people? Well, they wouldn’t speak for you. I will.
Women, life, freedom, free Iran.”
Whether you agree with Draiman or not, he’s tapping into a bigger question, what does ‘activism’ mean when it only shows up when it’s trending?
Follow me on Facebook here:
RELATED
MORE IN News
