Ever since Russia invaded his country, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has become one of the most famous people in the world. And he isn’t afraid to leverage that fame and ask others around the world to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia.
One of the most public ways he did so was by appearing at the 2022 Grammys. There, he delivered a powerful message to artists, influencers, and activists around the globe. “On our land, we are fighting Russia which brings horrible silence with its bombs. The dead silence. Fill the silence with your music. Fill it today, to tell our story,” he said. “Tell the truth about this war on your social networks, on TV; support us in any way you can. Any — but not silence.”
Fortunately, Zelensky’s call to action has worked! Celebrities and world leaders have begun openly speaking out and getting others to support Ukraine. And here are a few of the famous people taking a stand.
Billie Eilish
Billie Eilish has been traveling during her Happier Than Ever tour along with her brother. In a recent performance of “Your Power,” she dedicated the song to Ukraine.
“Tonight, we are going to perform ‘Your Power’ as a call to action and in honor of the people of Ukraine,” she said while introducing the song. “To world leaders, there are millions of people being displaced from Ukraine. We need you to answer the call and take immediate action and support displace people around the world. For those watching, help amplify this message so our leaders know we must take action immediately. We stand with Ukraine.”
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Red Hot Chili Peppers
The Red Hot Chili Peppers recently recorded a video calling on their fans to support Ukraine. In the video, Flea says “We’re here today in support of Ukrainian refugees, and we’re all in favor of all the support they can get.”
A slightly more chatty Anthony Kiedis chimes in with “We would like to help raise money and ask the world leaders and the not world leaders to contribute whatever you can to help the refugees, because the refugees always need help. And we wouldn’t ask you to do anything we wouldn’t do ourselves. So Chad, I’m gonna ask you to help. I’d like you to help.”
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen, a long-time icon of the common man, recorded his own video encouraging support of Ukraine. “Refugees in Ukraine and around the world need our help now,” he said. “Join all of us on E Street and Global Citizen as we stand up for Ukraine, and stand up for those displaced globally because everyone deserves safe and humane living conditions.”
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Katy Perry
Katy Perry has mastered the art of delivering messages that get to the point. On Twitter, she wrote, “We’ve all seen the horror unfold in Ukraine, so we know how desperately they need help, and this is the time for all of us – but most especially our leaders – to #StandUpForUkraine.”
Justin Trudeau
During a time when some national leaders are hesitant to speak up about Ukraine and Russia, Justin Trudeau didn’t hesitate at all. In a prepared statement, he said, “Today, our message to the Ukrainian people is this: we are standing with you.”
Continuing, he claimed, “Whether you need food, water, shelter, or medical aid — we are rallying the world to continue to have your backs and provide critical assistance where it is needed most. When we all work together, we can achieve the best outcomes for those displaced by Putin’s illegal and unjustifiable invasion of Ukraine.”
Annie Lennox
Not content simply to lend her own voice, Annie Lennox called on fans to record their own videos and write their own statements supporting Ukraine. On Instagram, she wrote, “WORLD LEADERS, I’m standing up for Ukraine. We need you to answer the call from the activists and advocates working to support refugees and take immediate action to help displaced people from Ukraine and around the world. So when you meet to decide how much funding you will give to support humanitarian aid, will you Stand Up for refugees everywhere and contribute the billions they need?”
Continuing, she wrote, “ I’m asking everyone who sees this to amplify this call — post yourself, share a video from an activist, or share this video — so that our leaders know we need the world to stand up for Ukraine and support refugees.”
Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne is best known for his hellraising heyday, but he and wife Sharon Osbourne shared a softer side of themselves on Twitter on April 8.
“We’re standing up for Ukraine,” Ozzy says, to which Sharon adds, “What we’ve seen is heart-wrenching, and we’re answering the call from those on the ground in Ukraine. World leaders are meeting tomorrow to decide how much funding they are giving to support refugees. We need them to stand up for refugees everywhere and contribute the billions needed for this crisis.”
Ozzy sums it up quite bluntly: “We cannot let the hardships these refugees are facing go unanswered.”
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The Backstreet Boys
Believe it or not, The Backstreet Boys really are back and on tour. And they are ready to put their money where their mouths are when it comes to Ukraine. In a video shared on Twitter, AJ McLean said, “Today, we are calling on our world leaders to stand up for Ukraine by generously supporting the refugees’ relief fund at the global pledging summit.”
Continuing, he said that “We are committing to donate a portion of our proceeds from our European DNA world tour to show our support.’
Lenny Kravitz
Lenny Kravitz decided that when it comes to supporting Ukraine, a picture really is worth a thousand words. So he shared a photo of himself on Twitter with a sign that simply read “Stand up for Ukraine! Let love rule, not war.”
Elton John
For musical legend Elton John, the fight for Ukraine is very personal. In a video shared on Twitter, John said that “I’ve been playing concerts in Eastern Europe since the 1970s. One of my favorites was a huge free AIDS awareness concert in Kyiv.” Furthermore, “It was all those years ago that I pledged to raise awareness and help people living with the disease, and the Elton John AIDS Foundation has been doing so in Ukraine and across the region for over two decades.”
Summing things up, he said, “We are heartbroken and appalled to see the suffering of people in Ukraine today, including over a quarter of a million people living with HIV as this conflict unfolds. … During these devastating times, we stand for an end to the violence and suffering in Ukraine. We must support those seeking help and making their way to safety with life-saving services and humanitarian aid.”
Madonna
Speaking of Elton John, he played a major role in a video that Madonna shared on Twitter, where she and her son David Banda covered Elton John’s “Your Song.”
“Music does make the people come together, as President Zelensky said so eloquently last week on the Grammys,” she said. “And so, my son David Banda and I would like to offer this gift of song to you, one of our favorite songs, in hopes that we can inspire people all around the world to stand up and support the people of Ukraine.”
Elton John ended up thanking her for using her music to raise awareness and support for Ukraine.