What did Jared Leto say about Ukraine? Thirty Seconds to Mars singer's seemingly pro-Russia remarks slammed by Kyiv
Jared Leto, 30 Seconds to Mars frontman, has seemingly upset Ukraine with his remarks during a recent concert show on October 11. During his performance in the Serbian capital Belgrade as part of the 'Seasons Tour,' the singer said he wanted to perform in Russia after "all these problems are finished."
Many theorized the "problems" were a reference to the Ukraine-Russia conflict. Amid the Belgrade show, Leto asked if any concertgoer was Russian, which was met with enthusiastic yells from the crowd. The singer and actor then replied:
“We missed you guys, you know that. I tell you what, one day when all these problems are finished we’re gonna come visit you in your homeland. We’re gonna go up to St. Petersburg, over to Moscow, we’re going to drop down to Kyiv, we’re going to party and hang out with everybody the way it should be."
Many in Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, widely rebuked the statement, including the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry. The official X page for the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry uploaded a post condemning Leto's remarks. It claimed his wish to perform in Russia was "an insult" to those who died fighting for their freedom.
"There can be no appeasement for Russia when it continues its attempts to solve "problem" of Ukraine’s very existence," the tweet said.
Many online lambasted Jared Leto, claiming that a war for the Ukrainians seemed like a mere "inconvenience" to the singer. Others accused him of empathizing with Russians, adding he was not welcome in Kyiv.
Jared Leto has supported Ukraine multiple times
While Jared Leto was criticized for his seemingly pro-Russian comments, he has spoken in support of Ukraine many times in the past. When the invasion started in 2022, Leto went on X to support Ukraine.
"To my friends and family in Ukraine - my heart breaks that this has escalated in such a devastating way. Please take great care and be as safe as you can. Sending thoughts to you and your loved ones during this chaotic and disruptive time," he wrote.
In 2014, Jared Leto visited the Maidan Nezalezhnosti in Kyiv to pay homage to the "Heavenly Hundred" who died during the Revolution of Dignity, a time of civil unrest in Ukraine.
That same year, Leto also spoke about the plight of the Ukrainian people during his acceptance speech at the Oscars. The speech, which came amid the Crimean crisis, led to Russia banning the live telecast of the awards ceremony that year.
30 Seconds to Mars is currently on its worldwide 'Seasons Tour.' The tour follows the band's sixth album, It's the End of the World, But It's a Beautiful Day, which came out in September 2023.
The tour started in Chile on March 14. The next show is scheduled for October 15 in Kazakhstan, with the last in Dubai on December 12. In addition to his music, Jared Leto's next big screen outing will be in Tron: Ares. The third Tron movie is slated for release in 2025.
