Green Day lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong told London concertgoers on Friday night he was renouncing his U.S. citizenship.
The declaration came in response to the United States Supreme Court's ruling on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization earlier that morning. The SCOTUS decision overturned Roe v. Wade.
During his band's Hella Mega tour performance at London Stadium, Armstrong declared:
“F'k America, I’m f'king renouncing my citizenship."
\u201cBillie Joe Armstrong wants to get rid of his U.S. citizenship and move to England after Roe V. Wade was overturned. https://t.co/xRikaQrwp6\u201d— TMZ (@TMZ) 1656342562
\u201c#GreenDay #RoeVWade #hellamegatour \nbillie joe\u2019s statement on roe vs wade at london hella mega tour last night\u201d— friendly neighborhood clikkie (@friendly neighborhood clikkie) 1656163425
"I’m f'king coming here," the California native shouted, eliciting much approval from the British audience.
On Friday morning, the conservative court majority–which included three justices appointed by former Republican President Donald Trump–struck down the 1973 landmark ruling that gave people the constitutional right to reproductive freedom.
The SCOTUS decision gave power back to the states to either impose restrictions or enact outright bans on reproductive choices, effective immediately for any states with existing laws on the books.
“There’s just too much f'king stupid in the world to go back to that miserable f'king excuse for a country,” Armstrong added before hinting he may have found his new home in the UK.
“Oh, I’m not kidding. You’re going to get a lot of me in the coming days.”
Many fans shared his frustration.
\u201c@armstr0ngtyler We had planned to move already, this just solidified our resolve.\u201d— friendly neighborhood clikkie (@friendly neighborhood clikkie) 1656163425
\u201cBillie Joe Armstrong represents a majority of Americans when he says, "Fuck America"\u201d— TDub \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08 (@TDub \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08) 1656270476
\u201c@OccupyDemocrats It\u2019s officially a conspiracy theorist Christian fundamentalists controlling this country\u201d— Occupy Democrats (@Occupy Democrats) 1656281858
People who didn't have the same privilege afforded to a famed musician had mixed feelings.
\u201c@CNN I'm jealous. I wish I could leave this shithole country\u201d— CNN (@CNN) 1656335704
\u201c@OccupyDemocrats I\u2019m happy he has the resources to make that choice. Would that we all could do the same if we wanted to.\u201d— Occupy Democrats (@Occupy Democrats) 1656281858
\u201c@OccupyDemocrats Nice plan. Too bad it's not an option for 350-million of us.\u201d— Occupy Democrats (@Occupy Democrats) 1656281858
Others mentioned the need to stay and fight.
\u201c@OccupyDemocrats While I understand your frustration and anger, I wish you would stay. If we don't stay and fight, they win.\u201d— Occupy Democrats (@Occupy Democrats) 1656281858
\u201c@CNN Except that this isn't helpful...it's a rage quit and a cop out. It's absolutely his right to do so, but how does this help the millions of women that just had their bodily autonomy revoked?\u201d— CNN (@CNN) 1656335704
\u201c@OccupyDemocrats Someone tell him the UK has stricter laws on abortion. Or maybe don\u2019t and just let him go!\u201d— Occupy Democrats (@Occupy Democrats) 1656281858
\u201c@CNN Hey Billy - instead, use your power and popularity to persuade others to vote so that states can secure this right\u201d— CNN (@CNN) 1656335704
\u201c@CNN Not good Billie Joe, calm down, get back and fight!\nCan't be punk and give up. One or the other pal.\u201d— CNN (@CNN) 1656335704
The five-time Grammy Award-winning band has not shied away from making political statements during past performances.
Their 2004 album American Idiot included songs inspired by 9/11 and the Iraq War and one that denounced former Republican President George W. Bush’s administration.
The album's relevance today was not lost on fans.
\u201cbillie joe armstrong and green day released american idiot over 20 years ago which was just a big middle finger to america and conservatives in the year of 2022 are just now acting shocked that he hates america y'all are so behind\u201d— deacy | jonathan byers defender (@deacy | jonathan byers defender) 1656272911
\u201cI saw Green Day right after the 2016 election and they said \u2018THIS ONE GOES OUT TO OUR NEW PRESIDENT\u2019 then played American idiot, same energy\u201d— Benjamin Berg (@Benjamin Berg) 1656259600
\u201cGreen Day opening with American Idiot in London tonight just hit right today\u201d— Charlotte Tobitt (@Charlotte Tobitt) 1656109127
The band also had an expletive-laden message for Texas Senator Ted Cruz during a show in Berlin–presumably for Cruz's inaction on gun control in his home state following the Uvalde mass school shooting that left 19 children and two teachers dead.
The day before the reversal of Roe v. Wade, the high court declared a state could not infringe on an individual's constitutional right to carry handguns in public.
Other American artists joined Armstrong in speaking out against the overturning Roe v. Wade that gave people federal protections on their reproductive healthcare options for nearly half a century.
At Britain's Glastonbury Festival, teen star Olivia Rodrigo brought Lily Allen onto the stage to join her in singing Allen's song "F**k You" which they dedicated to the conservative SCOTUS majority.
"I'm devastated and terrified that so many women and so many girls are going to die because of this," Rodrigo said of Friday's controversial ruling.
The 19-year-old dedicated the track to Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett.
"I wanted to dedicate this next song to the five members of the Supreme Court who have showed us that at the end of the day, they truly don't give a sh*t about freedom," said Rodrigo.
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