“Green Day vs. Will Smith wasn’t something I’d ever imagined…”

Green Day are halfway by way of their Saviors Tour, which kicked off in May 2024 and is ready to wrap on the finish of September.

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The exhibits are constructed round their newest album, Saviors, however longtime followers say the tour appears like a greatest-hits bundle, with the vitality of the band’s early days nonetheless very a lot alive.

Stops have included North America, South America, and shortly Canada, with packed stadiums and sweaty crowds singing alongside to many years of anthems.

But it wasn’t simply the music that acquired individuals speaking after their current cease in Lima, Peru.

The band determined to leap into the continuing web discourse about Will Smith’s tour visuals — they usually did it in a really Green Day means.

Green Day trolls AI crowd controversy

On Instagram, Green Day posted a clip of 1000’s of followers screaming each phrase to “Basket Case.” The caption learn: “Don’t need A.I. for our crowds.”

That one-liner was a transparent jab at Smith, who’s been beneath hearth for his personal tour content material. The Oscar-winning actor and rapper is on the highway together with his “Based on a True Story” 2025 tour, however his live performance footage drew skepticism on-line. Clips confirmed followers with too many fingers, blurred arms, and unusual visible glitches, all telltale indicators of AI-generated crowd pictures.

Critics accused him of faking engagement with synthetic followers. Smith tried to diffuse the backlash by posting a tongue-in-cheek video of his crowd changed with big human-sized cats, joking: “Crowd was poppin’ tonite!!”

Still, Green Day’s publish poured extra gasoline on the fireplace, making it clear the place they stand within the debate.

Green Day isn’t any stranger to mixing humor with sharp commentary.

Earlier this 12 months, drummer Tré Cool poked enjoyable at Charli XCX’s viral “Miss Should Have Been Headliner” Coachella sash by crafting his personal “Actual Headliner” sash out of bathroom paper. 

Fans again Green Day

On Reddit, followers leaned closely in Green Day’s favor. “Keeping punk alive,” one commenter wrote.

Another added: “Well, Green Day vs Will Smith wasn’t something I’d ever imagined, but I’m here for it.”

Others mirrored on the band’s endurance: “Each time I’ve seen them it’s been an out three-hour show that has me exhausted and I have a ton of respect for that work ethic.”

As for Smith, commenters appeared confused as to why he leaned into AI within the first place. “The funny thing is that there was ZERO reason for Will Smith to do the AI thing,” one wrote, noting that the crowds have been already actual.

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