Image Credit: Mark Holloway/Redferns 
Concertgoers attending a Kaiser Chiefs performance cheered on their favorite Covid-19 vaccines and booed unvaccinated people during a show over the weekend.
Performing at the Isle of Wight festival, British indie rock group Kaiser Chiefs vocalist Ricky Wilson asked the audience to cheer for either the Pfizer, Moderna, or Astrazeneca vaccines.
The stunt prompted accusations the band frontman was acting as a defacto “drug baron” for pharmaceutical companies.
Its a cult.#KaiserChiefspic.twitter.com/9sgFkZga7j
— Darren of Plymouth
(@DarrenPlymouth) September 20, 2021
Amid the concert, Wilson asked people to cheer as he announced the names of vaccine companies, including Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca.
Wilson then threw fans off by announcing, “Let’s hear it for the anti-vaxxers,” drawing boos from the crowd.
The stunt led some on social media to criticize the band and label pro-vaxxers “a cult.”
#PfizerChiefs
Its.A.Cultpic.twitter.com/4celyPh97K
— Dirk Verbeek (@Verbeek76) September 19, 2021
If you ever wondered how Germany found itself full of hate in 1930s…
‘Let me see your clean hands’ ~ Kaiser Chiefs.
— Lange (@djlange) September 20, 2021
The outrage was addressed by Wilson on social media, who later lamented being targeted by the “Vaccine Risk Aware” community.
One health and wellness expert labeled Wilson a “drug baron” who was promoting segregation and “encouraging bullying.”
No bullying Gillian, and no one is getting paid. I believe what I believe. You are using your influence every single day to share what you believe (Which you have a right to do) and I do it once and you label me manipulative? Please leave me alone in future.
— Ricky Wilson (@Rickontour) September 19, 2021
“No bullying Gillian, and no one is getting paid,” Wilson responded. “I believe what I believe. You are using your influence every single day to share what you believe (Which you have a right to do) and I do it once and you label me manipulative? Please leave me alone in future.”
Over the weekend, the antics of the pro-vax frontman were contrasted with those of Megadeth founder Dave Mustaine, who instead called out Covid tyranny during a concert last week and called for mass civil disobedience.
“Look around you, guys. Look to your right. Look to your left. And look how wonderful this is,” Mustaine commented. “We’re all here together, we’re not in fucking bags, you know? We’re not freaking out, and we’re not yelling at people: ‘Where’s your fucking mask?’”