The Rolling Stones Censor ‘Assassination’ From Song

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In a recent report by The Washington Post’s Paul Schwartzman, it was noted that The Rolling Stones have completely dropped the third verse of their song “Sympathy for the Devil” from live performances. Video footage from various shows corroborates this claim.

The omitted verse is as follows:

“I watched with glee while your kings and queens
Fought for ten decades for the gods they made
I shouted out, ‘Who killed the Kennedys?’
Well, after all, it was you and me”

During their 2024 shows, Mick Jagger transitions directly from the “Stuck around St Petersburg” verse to the “Just as every cop is a criminal” verse, leaving out the Kennedys verse entirely.

This isn’t the first instance of The Rolling Stones self-censoring their performances. In 2021, they removed the classic song “Brown Sugar” from their setlist after 50 years. The decision came in response to criticism labeling the song as “gross, sexist, and stunningly offensive towards black women.” Critics who spearheaded this backlash were often much younger and not around when the song was originally released in 1971.

Keith Richards confirmed to the LA Times that the band decided to drop “Brown Sugar” due to the backlash. The song’s final live performance by The Stones took place on August 30, 2019, in Miami Gardens, Florida.

The Rolling Stones also once told a member not to play a particular song.