Robert Smith of The Cure Attacks FIFA and Trump Over World Cup Final Show

Robert Smith, frontman of The Cure, has publicly condemned FIFA and Donald Trump over the planned halftime show for the World Cup final, which he criticizes as a commercial spectacle modeled after the Super Bowl. In a post on The Cure's Instagram account, Smith expressed his disdain with hashtags like "#PleaseJustFuckOff" and "#BreadAndCircuses," the latter referencing the use of superficial entertainment to distract the public. He specifically called out the lineup of performers, which includes Madonna, Justin Bieber, Shakira, and BTS, as part of what he sees as the "Americanization" of the event. Smith's outburst comes during the Primavera Sound festival, where The Cure performed on the second day, marking a return to normalcy after a lackluster opening. The musician's criticism highlights ongoing tensions between traditional music culture and the increasing commercialization of global sporting events.