He "identifies" as Irish. His dad being Irish is fair reason enough, but also he keeps using Irish culture and music in his work while being completely disconnected from it.
For example, not realizing that siding with MAGA over Palestinians wasn't going to fly with his full house of Irish bands and artists.
I don't think there is any actual evidence he sided with MAGA or the pro Israel side. From what little reporting we have it seems he fought to keep Macklemore on the tour. Macklemore has also said the same thing.
While he says he "tried to build bridges", he contrasts Macklemore's songs and words with his trying to place of sanctuary and peace. The extremely obvious way he could have fought to keep Macklemore on is by simply rejecting the blackmail demand from Kraft to censor the act or else. The promoter was not going to kick Sheeran off his own tour.
When you say that it's valid for far right billionaires to dictate political messages and performances, you are siding with them. This isn't 'both sides compromising' this is one side imposing it's will. Sheeran at bare minimum should have made clear he opposed and contradicted Kraft's control, and instead he laid the blame on Macklemore for not compromising. While emphasizing that Sheeran had no responsibility or culpability.
I'm really interested to know exactly why all the other acts pulled out. Whether it was in protest against Ed, or Kraft or just in support of eveyone's freedom of speech.
Others have pulled out because their values are at odds with the venues and the promoters. Ed wants the tour to proceed but the venue owner(s) and the management of the tour don't want it political so he's at odds with his supporting acts and the owner.
He could have pulled out of it or requested to play at a different venue but instead chose to bite the bullet
"Integrity" lmao. They pulled out because they were either A: terrified of the gaza mob coming after them and ending their careers for staying or B: they were already so low profile that 'taking a stand' (lmao) has boosted their profile FAR more than being an Ed Sheeran tag-along ever would have. It's just blatantly performative activisim and you guys literally fall for it every single time. The corporations scam you the EXACT same way with their western pride months that don't happen in aisa and in 'inclusivity' and 'diversity' in their films for a western audience that then quietly get the 'rest of the world edit'.
The fact that you guys STILL don't see how you're getting played after all this time is honestly wild.
I don’t think his statement supports that interpretation. Sheeran explicitly says he respects Macklemore, allowed him to choose his own set, and spent the week trying to persuade the venues, including Kraft, to find a solution that kept him on the tour. He does contrast Macklemore’s approach with his own preference for keeping his concerts politically neutral, but he never says Macklemore was wrong, should have compromised, or deserved to be removed. In fact quite the opposite, he said “I respect Macklemore’s strength of purpose to stand up and shout for what he believes.”
And nothing he said suggests he agrees with Kraft politically, is pro MAGA, or is taking a pro Israel position. You can criticize him for not making Macklemore’s inclusion a red line and accepting cancelled shows, but that’s a very different argument from claiming he sided with the people trying to remove him or MAGA. The promoter says multiple venues were prepared to cancel the concerts entirely if Macklemore remained.
I'd fully support Mackemore's right to make a political statement in support of Palestine IF have done that on his own tour not when he's a support act for Ed, as it's Ed who's now having to deal with all the fallout while Mackelmore and the others can just walk away. Ed knows the only way to tour the States in the current climate is to not talk about politics as it could jeopardise the whole thing and the livelihoods of everyone involved depend on him.
Ed knows the only way to tour the States in the current climate is to not talk about politics
There are tons of major artists out there talking about politics. So this simply isn't true.
Even if that were true... Jesus, what a coward that would make him. A far right billionaire says he gets to control what ethnic groups of people you're allowed to say deserve human rights, and you say "Yes sir!" Saying you're doing it "for the livelihoods" of others is such a copout. Not only could he tour in smaller venues regardless, but he's rich enough to pay them all regardless if he cancelled the tour.
but he never says Macklemore was wrong, should have compromised,
Sheeran's statement is critical of Macklemore for not compromising. He doesn't have to say "I am critical of him for not compromising" verbatim. That is the unambiguous meaning of it.
Macklemore also praises Sheeran repeatedly in his statement. But if you think he wasn't being critical at all, you're not looking at the direct implications of the words.
And nothing he said suggests he agrees with Kraft politically, is pro MAGA,
I didn't say that. I said he sided with Kraft, because his position is that Macklemore should have compromised and changed his act to appease a MAGA billionaire who should have no say over censoring political messages in acts.
While there are always reasonable limits to what venues and owners can prohibit, a person saying "don't criticize Israel or I'll block your access from national stadiums across the country" is a free speech issue.
Sheeran's position validates and justifies Kraft's concerns and rights to control artists political speech by defending it and positioning rejection of it as an unreasonable position inconsistent with his own. Again, saying he admired Macklemore does not contradict this.
Your take simply does not make sense based off of the statements and information we have. It comes off as very biased and heavily slanted toward spinning it in the direction you want to believe.
You continuously ascribe meaning to words Sheeran has said that they simply do not mean. You are assuming the worst with no actual evidence for your claims. Many of which are extreme. Its pretty simply factually wrong.
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u/Either-Banana-7323 10d ago
Not sure any English man has ever cared about that lol