Dear Ed Sheeran, fence-sitting is so last century: musicians can no longer opt out of politics
It’s all very 2026: with a stadium owner on one side and angry support acts on the other, the cornered star will have to pick a side
TL;DR
- Ed Sheeran's tour support acts have withdrawn after Macklemore was dropped for his pro-Palestine stance.
- Sheeran stated venue owners and promoters made the decision, citing his need to avoid politics for his young and diverse audience.
- The article points out Sheeran has previously taken political stances, contradicting his claim of neutrality.
- Support acts like Finneas O'Connell and Beoga expressed solidarity with Palestine and criticized censorship.
- Robert Kraft, a stadium owner, reportedly pressured Sheeran's team to remove Macklemore, threatening to cancel the entire show.
- The incident raises questions about censorship in entertainment and the difficulty for artists to remain apolitical.
- The Israeli-American Council's CEO called Macklemore's "Free Palestine" stance a call for the extermination of Israel and Jewish people.
- The article suggests that in the current climate, no statement about Israel and Palestine is considered acceptable by all parties in a public setting.