Mary McCartney/MPL Communications; ABC/Randy HolmesAt their respective concerts Tuesday night in Berlin and Liverpool, Paul McCartney and Elton John paid tribute to the victims of the horrific mass shooting that took place early Sunday morning at a gay club in Orlando, Florida.
As seen in a video posted on Twitter from McCartney’s show at Berlin’s Waldbuhne amphitheater, the rock legend and his band members walked onstage with a rainbow flag, representing support of the LGBT community, and raised it above their heads.
McCartney then said in German, “We stand together with Orlando,” before draping the flag around his shoulders.
Elton’s homage came before he sang “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” during his concert at Liverpool’s ECHO Arena. He began by describing the feelings of grief, shock and anger that come along with such a tragedy, then went on to commend the outpouring of love he’s seen following the horrible event.
“What I find extraordinary and what really gives me strength and hope is that immediately behind that devastation came a different wave,” Elton said. “A rainbow-colored wave of love, from Istanbul to Tel Aviv, from Sydney Opera House to the Eiffel Tower to the Empire State Building and the White House.”
John continued, “So tonight, while I would like to honor and mourn the LGBT community’s loss in Orlando and the loss of everyone who has been a victim of hate and stigma and dogma, I would like to say tonight we are winning the fight against prejudice.”
He added, “The rainbow around the world tells me we can and we will win against these people.”
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