Disturbed frontman David Draiman went online on Monday, February 2nd, to call out fellow artists and high-profile figures who appeared at the 68th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, CA. Known for his outspoken support of Israel during the ongoing war in Gaza — a stance that has often placed him at the center of controversy — Draiman this time expressed frustration over what he viewed as a deafening silence regarding the situation in Iran during what’s often billed as music’s biggest night.
He framed that silence as hypocrisy, arguing that the Iranian people — particularly those killed or brutally repressed for protesting — deserved the same visibility and compassion on such a massive global stage. By ending with “Women, life, freedom, free Iran,” he positioned himself as willing to speak up where he believes others chose not to.
Iran has seen an escalating surge of civil unrest over the past several months, as citizens have taken to the streets in opposition to the Islamic Republic government, its policies, and worsening economic conditions. Reports indicate that tens of thousands of demonstrators have been killed amid harsh crackdowns carried out by government forces, the military, and security authorities. These actions have allegedly been accompanied by internet shutdowns and attempts to suppress information, further intensifying strains between Iranian officials and the United States, along with other Western countries.
In the video below, Draiman addressed the absence of public statements supporting the Iranian people at the 2026 Grammys.
He said (as transcribed by theprp):
““Good morning, everyone.”
“I was disappointed, to say the least, after watching the Grammy Awards last night — and there were many great moments and many great performances.”
“I was disappointed that not a single person decided to say anything about what’s happening in Iran, about the Iran mas**cre. About the fact that tens of thousands of innocent people have been sla**htered, shot after their protests in hospital beds, hunted down, mercilessly, repressed.”
“You are supposed to be against repression. You are supposed to be for freedom. You are supposed to be for human rights, right? Well, the Iranian people deserve your compassion. They deserve your concern. They deserve your focus, and you gave them none of it, and it’s embarrassing for all of you. I’m not arguing against your respective causes, I’m not even voicing my opinion on them. Everyone’s entitled to a voice. Everyone’s entitled to an opinion. But why? Why wasn’t there a single voice on behalf of the Iranian people? Well, they wouldn’t speak for you. I will.”
“Women, life, freedom, free Iran.”
