In support of Palestine*
Important distinction, and in this case it’s both. Headline could have been better about that.
In complicated matters, the simplest explenation is almost always the correct one: he supports the genocide but he’s too cowardly to own up to it.
It’s amazing to me that we are in an era where neutrality is not only not an option, it’s worse than picking a side because then everyone on all sides sneers at you for being at best an idiot and at worst a coward.
His statement basically said he’s against it but is too much of a bitch to vocalize that because he’ll get canceled too, something about “not disappointing the fans” by either pulling out or getting pulled by the promoter.
It’s a bullshit excuse no matter how you cut it. The truth of the matter is that he was not willing to be inconvenienced by having to cancel his tour in solidarity with people he supposedly agrees with. And if you frame your cancellation as “We cannot proceed with the tour because these venues won’t allow us to play because of our support of Palestine.” Who are the fans truly going to be mad at? The artists and the bands? Or the corporate-owned venues that are sycophantly siding with genocidal Israel and attempting to stifle free speech?
I think its the other way around, really, from what he said. Either way, its bad and he’s paying for it
He supports whatever the billionaires he suckles from do.
We could show support for Maclemore’s stand by streaming Macklemore on your preferred streaming platform all day. If we all do that at least he will get some income and the numbers can help to show the world is on the same anti genocidal wavelength
Can’t handle the music, but I got it playing on my spare phone in the corner of a room I’m not in for the day. Haha
That’s hilarious, tbh. Lol
Not a bad idea. Like they always say vote with your wallet and your feet.
This video kicks ass!
I never had a particular fondness of Ed Sheeran but this entire drama made him 1000% more dislikeable. The claim that you’d specifically not use your platform to speak out on social injustices because you want “peace” and want to provide a safe space for your audience just means that you want to bury your head in the sand for money. What a load of crap
If he wanted to be neutral he could have said “I don’t want to publically take a side on the conflict, but I will stand by free speech and mackelmore. If he can’t play then I won’t play”
Better though if he just grew a pair…
Also. Free Palestine.
Art has a point of view. It’s not escapism it’s expression. If your music has no message you’re making elevator music not art.
This. For all the people complaining about music festivals and music in general being “political”
And he has spoken out in support of Ukraine as the invasion continues, so his claims are total nonsense. He’s making an exception in favour of Israel.
Edit: he also played a fundraiser concert for Ukraine.
I don’t know why he thought the whole “both sides” thing would absolve him in his press release.
I learned today that nazis think there are two sides to the holocaust
i’ve been struggling to wrap my brain around that concept, but i grew up where the idea of playing Cowboys and Indians (as a form of tag, when you’re a kid) was in the public consciousness somewhere. I can’t ever remember actually playing and calling it that. Maybe i saw it on the television or read about it? just you know a casual kids game commemorating the colonization and genocide of its land’s original people. it gets worse the more i think about it.
Damn I thought about that a couple months back and yeah, I remember playing it as a kid. I think it quickly got changed to cops and robbers, so maybe I was at the tail-end of that version; sure was a fucked-up thing to call a kids game.
We played cops and robbers instead, but I don’t necessarily think that’s any better.
No doubt the current MAGAT’s are introducing it to their kids as “ICE and Immigrants”
I didn’t even know that. Pathetic
I kinda get what he wants - but situations outside his control have forced him to pick sides and he chose wrong. Doesn’t seem to get that there’s no fence to sit on here.
Should’ve moved venues even if means cutting back attendance, showed support for your friend, and turned the narrative into “The billionaires cut OUR show because THEY’RE bigots”
Incredible levels of self-own that have left him standing alone.
I had no opinion of him before but now have a very negative one.
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Oh shit. I was wondering if he’d play his next date. I guess not. Unless he can find a new band in three days, LOL.
Good on them.
No issue hiring a new band in that timescale.
No issue hiring some random musicians. But the previous band had been practicing, right? Are the random last minute session musicians going to be as good with only a couple day’s warnibg?
I know it’s Ed Sheeran’s music, not exactly complex classical music, but still. Musicians aren’t interchangeable parts lmao
Yeah professional musicians would be good to go. It’s what they do.
The issue is probably finding one that wants to do it and get marked as pro-genocide.
This is awesome to see.
Karmic orgasm
For some reason it puts the Terminator song in my head. The victory version that rolls at the end credits.
Must be the humans having a small victory over ‘the machine’.
Remember kids, not choosing a side is a side.
Most of these billionaires only support Israel because its economy feeds America. Israel’s tech sector touches silicone valley in myriad ways. Israel’s lobbying arm gets politicians rich. Israeli aid gets spent with American contractors - especially military. It’s a big greedy circle jerk, not true solidarity on Israel’s actions. America only calls out genocide when its low stakes for the owner class or an enemy.
your mixing up your cause and effect. zionism is an export of the american elite, always has been
I love a good display of solidarity
Sheeran wrote. “I know who I am, both as a person and as an artist, and those who know my heart know my values too.”
They say actions speak louder than words, and Sheeran continuing to play on for those who would silence an anti-genocide movement says plenty more than he’s allowing himself to, especially when all of his supporting acts did refuse the money and bowed out.
His values: $$$
Didn’t they all leave in support of Palestine?
Yeah the headline is wrong or rolling stone is too scared to say “in support of Palestine”
Thank you for understanding my point and, ultimately, I’d argue the article’s headline is at least more neutral than OPs version in the post.
ALL OF ED SHEERAN’S OPENERS ABANDON TOUR AFTER MACKLEMORE DEBACLE
vs.
Finneas and Every Other Ed Sheeran Opener Have Abandoned His Tour in Support of Macklemore
macklemore was booted from the tour for making pro-palestine comments at one of the shows.
I’m aware, but as Macklemore’s own statement said, he is not a victim. I would hope the acts that quit did so in support of Palestine, not Macklemore.
But before I get into it, I want to say something that should be obvious. In this moment I think it matters. I am not a victim.
Well, they kinda drew a line in the sand. Now, if you stay on tour, youre pro isreal by default. This is how lines are drawn
Funny thing is, it was Kraft who drew the line and caused this whole thing. And everyone but sheeran stepped right over his line. it really highlights how much the US isnt buying the zionists BS narrative anymore.
Kraft is the bad guy here
Ed Sheeran is in a horrible position. He has sunk $20+ million of his own money Into prepaid stage set ups, trucks to transport equipment, hired staff, and more that he can’t get back unless the ticket sales cover it.
He doesn’t really have a sensible option of just canceling this thing.
The promoter is also the bad guy here. That’s who made the decisions.
I interpret Ed’s statement as saying that he is pro-Palestine, but he has So much invested in this tour that it would be financially devastating for Robert Kraft to cancel the venues.
The problem is Kraft.
Not necessarily, which is why I hope the quit in support of Palestine.
Being pro-Macklemore ≠ pro-Palestine and from what I recall about the statements each posted they were very carefully worded.
I’ll never fault anyone for doing the right thing, even if it’s for the wrong reasons, but I’ll always be sceptical of the motivations of public figures in these situations.
You’re quite right that this can be an important distinction to make, but in this case it’s moot. I read all the artists statements and all of them explicitly state both of those positions. Yes, they all directly supported Macklemore speaking out, but they all also followed that by stating some form of agreement with him on Palestine.
Finneas strait up says, “I stand with Palestine and its people”. Aaron Rowe uses the phrase “Israeli genocide”. Beoga says “We fully supported his message.” and goes on to say a lot more about Palestine, colonialism and violence. The only one who doesn’t specifically name anyone is Lukas Graham, but even he talks about speaking out against any violence on civilians and children, no matter who they are, which in the context of it being a response to Macklemore’s statements should obviously be read to include Palestine.
It’s not moot. In fact the headline of the post is editorialized compared to the headline of the article itself.
Finneas’ statement is both in character and explicit compared to the others.
Lukas Graham’s statement could be ambiguous
It’s hard to watch families in other parts of the world burying the people they love. We should be able to speak about war, about civilians being killed, about children who deserve to grow up. Wherever they live. Whatever flag flies over them.
and Aaron Rowe’s is in support of those who speak up not being silenced, it’s not actually advocating for Palestine directly.
I cannot stand by and allow billionaires to use their position of power to silence the rightful voices of those who speak up against Israeli genocide and who highlight the savage
Even Beoga’s leaves some wiggle room with its phrasing.
As I said, doing the right thing, even for the wrong reasons, shouldn’t be dismissed but all too often the opinions of those with something to lose or gain shift with popular opinion.
Ultimately take issue with the editorializing by OP and am sceptical of any who stand behind someone else’s actions rather than alongside them with their own.
You’re being downvoted because the stuff you’re assuming is directly addressed in the quotes from the artists in the article for this whole thread. You don’t even have to go find them somewhere else, they’re literally in quotation marks in the article that this entire thread is a about.
I neither see nor care about downvotes (or upvotes for that matter).
the stuff you’re assuming
I didn’t assume anything. I questioned the articles headline and expressed sceptisism. As for the quotes, both Lukas Graham and Aaron Rowe’s were walk-the-line neutral. Fineness and Beoga are the ones who explicitly state their position.
You can say that you just read the article after being called out. I just wanted you to realize how dumb you were being. Now you’re trying to cites specifics to save face and it makes you look way worse.
This quote from Lukas Graham from the article doesn’t sound neutral to me:
Graham wrote, “It’s hard to watch families in other parts of the world burying the people they love. We should be able to speak about war, about civilians being killed, about children who deserve to grow up. Wherever they live. Whatever flag flies over them.
“Money doesn’t give you the right to own the conversation. Nobody’s bank balance should decide who gets to speak or which suffering we’re allowed to acknowledge,” he added. “I love Ed, and I’m grateful for everything we’ve shared. That hasn’t changed. But I can’t put these words out into the world and carry on with this tour as things stand. We’re withdrawing from the remaining dates. I’m sorry I won’t be there. This is a difficult decision, but it’s one I need to stand by.”
Nor does this sound neutral from Aaron Rowe:
“I cannot stand by and allow billionaires to use their position of power to silence the rightful voices of those who speak up against Israeli genocide and who highlight the savage,” Rowe wrote on Instagram. Rowe added that he did not “take the decision lightly,” thanking Sheeran for his friendship and for the opportunities he’d given him. “But,” Rowe continued, “as Irish people we know all too well about genocide, forced famine and violent occupation… I need to be true to myself and my ancestors who resisted colonization, and fought for a freedom that I enjoy today in Ireland.” (Humanitarian groups and a United Nations commission have said Israel’s actions in Gaza constitute a genocide. Israel and its allies, including the United States, have denied this.)
I swear to god if you try to keep back pedaling the chain is gonna fly off your bike and kill someone.
Maybe he thinks his fans are of mixed minds about this. He really failed to read the room here. Probably wasn’t paying attention.
ME just before I fart: “ALEXA, play me something by Ed Sheeran.”
It takes a lot to make me laugh at a fart joke. Well done.
What to say after you fart in a crowd (or elevator).
“Not a bad sound out of a half inch speaker”
“A bit more choke and that engine will start”
“Keep shouting Sir, we’ll find you”
Alexa plays Ed Sheeran. Everyone hears a gigantic fart.
Now no one can stay on the tour because staying will be saying youre pro isreal but default. This is why you always side with free speech.
Finneas, as in the apple TV intro music guy?
I thought he was Ferb’s brother ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I don’t know about that, but he’s Billie Eilish’s brother and co-writer/producer.
Pretty sure he’s more well known as the guy that made the apple TV intro music.
He very much isn’t. He’s extremely well-known as the other half of (his sister) Billie Eilish’s recordings and plays with her live. He also has a pretty successful band in his own right. That’d be why he was selected for the Apple TV thing to begin with.
I mean, I guess if you’d never heard of Billie Eilish or heard her music before, I could see your first exposure to him being the Apple TV intro music.
Agree to disagree
so dude, billie eilish comes up in his wikipedia well before the apple tv intro music.
like, Jet is known for more than being in the ipod commercial. if you’re an apple fanboy and don’t have a lot of other interests, that’s all you’ll know them from though.
I can’t be sure, but I think y’all are being woooshed in this thread, brothers
Looks like it, but it wasn’t at all made clear by the wording. Some whooshes are justified.
I thought there was a reasonable chance of it being deadpan, but you know, I try to be helpful…
Attempted wooooshing =/= wooooshing
I’m just a fan of the 2 second apple TV sound that plays before each show. Sometimes I’ll start the episode over again just to hear it again.
Woosh!
Yeah, I had just gotten home and unloaded a bunch of weights out of the damn car. My brain was not the most on
