Adele, Rising Sun Flag Appears on Screen During Germany Concert... 'Did She Use It Instead of Nazi Symbol?'

"Disappointed" Korean Fans Pour Criticism

Controversy arose when a 'Rising Sun Flag' appeared on the screen during a concert by British pop star Adele in Germany.

Adele held a concert on the 2nd (local time) at a special stadium in Munich, Germany. She is currently conducting a large-scale solo concert series this month, with a total of 10 shows attracting about 740,000 spectators. Notably, an enormous LED screen measuring 220 meters in length was installed for this event, aiming to be registered in the Guinness World Records.

Rising Sun Flag Appeared on Screen During Adele's Concert
[Image Source=Online Community Archive]

The issue occurred during the performance on the 2nd. While Adele was passionately singing "Rumor Has It," a graphic of the Rising Sun Flag appeared on the giant screen. The Rising Sun Flag was used by the Japanese Empire during World War II. The exact reason why the Rising Sun Flag appeared during Adele's concert is unknown.

As related footage spread on domestic online communities, controversy grew among netizens. Comments included, "I'm an Adele fan, but this is unacceptable," "I don't understand the connection between that song and the Rising Sun Flag," "I'm very disappointed," and "It seems either foolish or careless."

Scene during the performance [Image source= SNS capture]

Some netizens expressed disappointment that this incident occurred in Germany, which was an ally of Japan during World War II. One netizen sarcastically pointed out, "Since Nazi symbols cannot be used in Germany, did they use the Rising Sun Flag instead?" Germany, sensitive about its past, strictly prohibits the use of Nazi-era symbols such as the swastika.

Meanwhile, Adele recently stated in an interview with a local German broadcaster that she plans to take a break after finishing her performances by November. Adele said, "I have no plans for new music at all," and added, "Once all of this is over, I want to take a long rest and spend some time on other creative work."