Kendrick Lamar used his Glastonbury debut to speak out in support of women’s rights in the wake of the Supreme Court’s ruling on Roe v Wade.
The award-winning rapper gave a powerful performance as the final headline act of the festival.
At the end of his 90-minute set, Lamar delivered a statement seemingly in response protest to the roll-back of abortion rights in the US.
With blood pouring down his face from a crown of thorns, Lamar proclaimed: “Godspeed for women’s rights. They judge you, they judge Christ.”
He repeated the phrase over and over with increasing intensity, eventually breaking off mid-sentence and throwing his microphone to the ground before walking off stage.
It was a forceful end to a theatrical performance that was unlike anything the festival has ever witnessed.
Throughout the show, the star addressed themes of guilt, greed, loyalty, power, ambition and prejudice, shouldering the audience’s problems by examining his own.
He emerged flanked by 20 dancers to perform ‘United In Grief’ – a song that looks back over his 19-year career and the mental health problems he has addressed over multiple albums.
Others highlights included ‘Alright’, his soulful protest against injustice and police brutality; ‘Humble’, a scathing rant against toxic masculinity; and ‘Swimming Pools (Drank)’, which discusses his grandfather’s alcoholism.
Kendrick Lamar is certainly a voice that uses his platform for change, debate, reflection and social injustices.
