Disturbed's DAVID DRAIMAN On Crowd Reaction At Sabbath Farewell: 'A Few Jew Hating Morons'

Summary

• Disturbed’s David Draiman was booed during a performance at Black Sabbath’s farewell concert in Birmingham after controversial political actions.
• He defended himself online, claiming the boos were exaggerated and linked to his support for Israel and the IDF.
• Despite backlash, Draiman says his UK tour will continue and insists he remains unapologetically pro-Israel.

Disturbed frontman David Draiman took the stage at Black Sabbath’s Back to the Beginning farewell event on July 5, held at Villa Park in Birmingham. What should have been a tribute moment turned into a noisy reception for the singer, who was booed by parts of the crowd before performing “Shot in the Dark” and “Sweet Leaf” as part of a rotating supergroup lineup.

Some fans in the audience made their disapproval clear. While Draiman completed both songs, videos circulating on social media captured the audible booing during his entrance (watch below). This wasn’t a total surprise given recent headlines involving the singer.

In June 2024, Draiman visited Israel and signed an IDF artillery shell with the words “F–k Hamas.” This came amid a period of intense conflict between Israel and Hamas that began after an October 2023 attack that left more than 1,200 Israelis dead, many of them civilians. Over 200 people were taken hostage during that assault.

In response, Israel launched a massive military operation in Gaza. The campaign has led to more than 58,000 reported Palestinian deaths according to the Hamas-run health ministry, and over 1.9 million people displaced. International scrutiny has been intense, with multiple organizations, including the UN Human Rights Council, raising concerns over possible war crimes and genocide.

Draiman’s vocal support for Israel throughout this conflict has sparked criticism online, especially after the shell-signing photo went public. Many saw his appearance at the Black Sabbath event as inappropriate, or at least controversial, given the broader political climate.

After the show, Draiman took to social media to respond. On Instagram, he addressed the reaction to his appearance and pushed back against claims that he had been “booed off stage.” On Facebook, he posted a longer statement defending his presence at the event and his political stance.

“Yes, there were a few boos when I walked out,” Draiman wrote. “But I came to pay homage to my teachers, my idols, the mighty Black Sabbath, and I wasn’t about to let a few Jew hating morons deter that.”

He also criticized what he called an effort by some media outlets and online communities to “feed their narrative” and “incite hatred of Jews.” Draiman claimed that a doctored audio track, featuring enhanced booing, had been circulated online to exaggerate the incident.

“There’s even a track being passed around out there that added enhanced booing to the performance just to add fuel to the fire. Pathetic. The live stream shows the truth. Both songs went over great,” he said.

In his view, the backlash has less to do with the performance and more to do with his political views.

“Still here. Still coming back to the UK in the fall to what’s shaping up to be a VERY successful run, if ticket sales are any indication,” he added. He ended the post with a blunt message: “Put that in your pipes and smoke it.”

Draiman also repeated a familiar refrain in his recent social media activity: “I am STILL UNAPOLOGETICALLY A FIERCELY PRO ISRAEL JEW. I will ALWAYS stand up for my people.”

The reaction to his comments has been as polarized as the situation itself. Supporters praised him for standing firm in his convictions. Critics accused him of using identity to deflect from broader criticism of military actions in Gaza.

One comment under his post read: “Nobody hates you because you’re Jewish. They hate you for signed bombs. Stop twisting things to suit your narrative.” Another supporter wrote: “It was not as bad as the idiots are trying to make it. Keep the faith, brother.”

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So? Well, the boos were part of the show, but the story didn’t end there. Draiman stayed on stage, performed the songs, and took his response to social media.

His UK tour dates remain scheduled. Some fans have voiced support. Others question his appearance at an event meant to honor Black Sabbath, a band often associated with themes of war and resistance.

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Reactions haven’t slowed. The discussion continues online, with plenty of opinions and little sign of fading.

So surreal yesterday at #BackToTheBeginning

So many that I learned so much from over the years, so much talent, such a legacy that @BlackSabbath and @OzzyOsbourne have!

It brought tears to my eyes to watch Ozzy sing “Mama I’m comin home” one last time 🙏🏻🤘🏻#ThankYou

— David Draiman 🟦🎗️🇺🇸🇮🇱✡️☮️ (@davidmdraiman) July 6, 2025

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