Shawn Mendes Released A New Song About The Canadian Wildfires, And People Are Having Really Strong Reactions

    "Oh God, this is Shawn Mendes’ 'We Are The World' isn’t it?"

    Mychal Thompson
    by Mychal Thompson

    BuzzFeed Staff

    Shawn Mendes released a surprise new single, and it's receiving a lot of attention — some good and a lot bad.

    A close-up of Shawn smiling
    Jacopo Raule / Getty Images

    On Thursday, the 24-year-old Canadian singer announced on Twitter and Instagram that he was dropping a new song, "What the Hell Are We Dying For?," at midnight.

    Shawn standing next to a glass railing inside a building and looking with his hands pressed together
    Medios Y Media / Getty Images

    The single artwork was a recognizable image for everybody in Canada and the Northeast, mid-Atlantic, and Midwest US experiencing the wildfire smoke, and it received a lot of mixed reactions.

    A barely visibly skyline due the smoke and haze with the words What The Hell Are We Dying For? written across the image
    Twitter: @ShawnMendes

    The Lyle, Lyle Crocodile star shared a snippet of the single along with a caption that read, "Started writing this song yesterday morning with my friends in upstate New York & finished it only a few hours ago...felt so important to me to share with you guys in real time."

    WHAT THE HELL ARE WE DYING FOR ? OUT NOW

    Started writing this song yesterday morning with my friends in upstate Newyork & finished it only a few hours ago..felt so important to me to share with you guys in real time ♥️♥️ https://t.co/9ODeE5v5FB pic.twitter.com/S3HUpk672s

    — Shawn Mendes (@ShawnMendes) June 9, 2023
    Twitter: @ShawnMendes

    And yes, if you're wondering, the writing-buddy friends he is talking about are the "Smoothie Squad" from this infamous photo a while back.

    Dsanchez/CPR / BACKGRID, Instagram: @https://www.instagram.com/mikesabath/?hl=en

    Although Shawn included that he's "also donating to the Canadian Red Cross," a lot of people still had negative reactions to the single and album artwork for the song.

    Robert Schlesinger / Getty Images for Tommy Hilfiger

    Twitter: @repmiIas

    Oh, that’s not — https://t.co/AmY5unqjVU pic.twitter.com/ulgYiwMnVA

    — chris evans (@notcapnamerica) June 9, 2023
    Dreamworks Animation / Via Twitter: @notcapnamerica

    Twitter: @rosestdreams

    Twitter: @Stop_Hammerzeit

    It’s been a day and we’re already using the polluted NY skyline as cover art this is insane 💀💀 https://t.co/OhXo6ET86G

    — Nicholas (@NicholasPas5) June 9, 2023
    Twitter: @NicholasPas5

    shawn mendes seeing the dangerously hazardous skies of new york and thinking what a beautiful album art aesthetic that would make pic.twitter.com/Y9vsSND2Yy

    — ethan #CrackerBarrelHasFallen (@ethanshumjr) June 9, 2023
    Twitter: @ethanshumjr

    Twitter: @hoefied

    Other users even accused Shawn of using the song as a metaphor to sing about his relationship with Camila Cabello.

    listened to shawn mendes’ new song and it’s not even a climate change song? lmao. it’s a breakup song. and i actually like it.

    boy that cover is so unnecessary.

    — gabe (@____gabe__) June 9, 2023
    Twitter: @____gabe__

    thinking Shawn's new song was going to be about climate change with that cover, but nope it's actually a breakup song about Camila?? the things I could say about this especially with the timing of his release😶

    — I_just_ship_people (@ijustshippeople) June 9, 2023
    Twitter: @ijustshippeople

    Lmao with the title and the cover art and the way he dropped it I expected Shawn's single to be about climate change and the crisis in the Canada and US... it's about Camila 💀

    — ryan 💚 (@lmolmsupremacy) June 9, 2023
    Twitter: @lmolmsupremacy

    While some users came to Shawn's defense, citing this is nothing new because he's always been vocal about climate change.

    are you all mad at him for?? shawn mendes ALWAYS cared about climate change, he always donated, and showed he cares through art too, he never cared about charts, plus it can give more visibility to what is happening and more people can help.
    Twitter: @tomdetailss

    one thing i really respect shawn mendes for is he does NOT hesitate to make & release music to raise awareness to a current situation SO quickly

    — saskia (@beersgravity) June 9, 2023
    Twitter: @beersgravity

    Twitter: @fearlesshoax_

    Check out the song and lyrics here:

    View this video on YouTube
    Island Records / UMG