**Bob Geldof Condemns Elon Musk Over Comments on Empathy, Calls for Continued Activism at Live Aid Musical Premiere**
During the opening night of the West End production ‘Just For One Day: The Live Aid Musical’, music legend and humanitarian Bob Geldof launched a stinging rebuke at billionaire Elon Musk for his recent remarks on empathy. The 73-year-old – renowned for his role in organising the iconic 1985 Live Aid concert – seized the moment to address the audience at London’s Shaftesbury Theatre, expressing deep concern over the direction of contemporary discourse on compassion.
The incident, which went viral following footage shared by Theatre-News.com, saw Geldof directly criticise Musk’s assertion that “the great weakness of Western civilisation is empathy.” Musk made these remarks during a February interview on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, where he expanded on the concept, describing empathy as at risk of being “weaponised” and an “empathy exploit”.
Geldof’s response to these statements was forthright and emotional. He labelled Musk a “sociopathic loser” before explaining, “Empathy is the glue of civilisation. It’s the glue of humanity. It’s how we do things together. It’s how we sit here together and clap because we actually understand that this is the stuff that works.” To Geldof, the ability to feel and act in solidarity with others is not a weakness but the foundation of collective action and social progress.
His comments were not limited to Musk. In a passionate post-performance address, Geldof also called on political leaders, including US President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and the UK’s current Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, to recommit themselves to supporting those in need. “We need to be helped, we need to help the NHS, we need to re-arm because there’s a thug currently invading our continent, but really? Is that all your intellect can achieve – to strip help away? It doesn’t have to be this way,” he told the audience.
Throughout his speech, Geldof tied these challenges back to the ethos of Live Aid, recalling the extraordinary success of the original event and its later successor, Live 8, both of which raised monumental sums for famine relief and development in Ethiopia. Reflecting on the impact of these events, he said, “It began working like that in 1985, and we took it all the way 20 years later to Live 8. That really tipped the balance in the favour of those we wanted to help.” The continued drive for compassion and collective effort, he suggested, remains as urgent now as it was then.
‘Just For One Day: The Live Aid Musical’ itself has traced an impressive journey – premiering at The Old Vic early in 2024, making stops in the US before returning home to London’s vibrant theatre scene. While noting the entertainment value, star cast and live musical performances, Geldof hoped that the performance would serve as an inspiration for a new generation. “If there’s somebody here who can take this idea and run with it in some other way that we’re not capable of, they can only do good,” he implored.
The humanitarian impact of the stage production has already become clear. According to Geldof, the cast and crew have committed to donating 10 percent of the musical’s takings to charitable causes. With almost £1 million already raised, he revealed that funds are actively supporting the construction of hospitals and schools in regions once at the heart of the 1984 famine. “The money these people have raised has already, in the place that was the epicentre of the famine in 1984, gone to build hospitals and schools and stuff like that with the money by just doing their job tonight. That’s what they’ve achieved,” Geldof stated, commending the ongoing efforts of those involved.
The exchange has reignited debate about the role of empathy in public life, particularly as technological and political leaders grapple with complex social and humanitarian issues. Geldof’s remarks serve as a reminder of the enduring power of collective action and the arts, and the urgent need for compassion in the face of ongoing global crises.
As the curtain fell on ‘Just For One Day’, it was clear that the legacy of the Live Aid movement – and Geldof’s determination to champion empathy as an essential force for good – continues to resonate with audiences and activists alike, some forty years after the original concert first captured the world’s attention.