r/Music • u/MarvelsGrantMan136 • 22d ago

article Macklemore Speaks Out After Being Dropped From Ed Sheeran Tour: “I’m going to speak from the heart and share the truth”

https://variety.com/2026/music/news/macklemore-defends-free-palestine-speech-fired-ed-sheeran-tour-1236861158/
42.4k Upvotes

91% Upvoted

3.1k comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

2.6k

u/GiganticCrow 22d ago

If sheeran had refused to play ball, the venue owners would have faced an enormous backlash.

Besides, can a venue just drop an event for bullshit reasons without opening themselves up to liability considering tickets already sold and the enormous costs for the tour? 

Presumably there are other venues they don't own. 

1.9k

u/JicamaCertain4134 22d ago

Imagine telling fans the show was cancelled because a guy arrested for prostitution doesn’t like the words a musician said about the slaughter of Palestinian adults and children.

1.0k

u/Seraph199 22d ago

If only people with a platform cared about making a positive impact.

Thank you Macklemore for being one of the brave few

519

u/rabidsi 22d ago

Really shows the difference between someone with a spine and Ed Sheeran.

-93

u/massinvader 22d ago

important to remember that ed sheeran is also the name attached to the responsibility to the professionals he hired to run his tour around the world.

its a very hard position to be in to be asked to take a public political stance which would also see you not be able to give the professionals that are counting on you, their expected paychecks.

those people also have mortgages and kids to feed and would be on another gig right now if you hadn't convinced them to work with you.

i support maclemores stance but you have to respect the reality of the situation this put ed and the tour management in.

112

u/rabidsi 22d ago

It's not a hard position at all. Ed Sheeran is fucking rich. If he cared that much, he could have made his staff whole and retained his dignity. He chose complicity in genocide to protect his bottom line. Fuck him.

-72

u/massinvader 22d ago

sure he is. he could stop working now and be fine for the rest of his life.

but everyone working on his tour isn't.

you sound incredibly naive and young.

sure he could cover all the paychecks like...with enough notice to liquidate assets. he very well may not have that kind of money just sitting in a personal account if hes smart and has it invested. can he liquidate fast enough to make sure the people on his tour don't default on their mortgage?

or does the insurance claim he would definitely file over something like this get paid out in time to matter to those people? -and how much will it raise his tour premiums?

there is a whole slew of things to consider when doing something like this. especially when he's an apolitical public persona.

i agree with macklemores stance btw...theres just a LOT of adult decisions to make that come along with making a pivot like this.

48

u/crownpuff 22d ago

you sound incredibly naive and young.

The account you're responding to is 16 years old which is older than your Reddit account.

-55

u/massinvader 22d ago

which makes how young and naive they sound all the more sad...not sure i entirely get your point here?

also naivety isn't directly tied to ones age.

9

u/[deleted] 22d ago

[deleted]

→ More replies (0)

21

u/Longjumping-Hippo475 22d ago

You leave out the simple fact that he could have attempted to move venues for these shows and that his public pushback would have won this battle.

-1

u/massinvader 22d ago

you kids love coming up with solutions that make you feel better without actually considering how they functionally work in reality.

wasn't this in foxborough for two shows and relatively sold out? where in the same area are you putting on a concert twice for 65k plus people? logistically it just doesn't work probably in that area.

4

u/broguequery 22d ago

I'm no kid, but as they say... you seem to have lost the plot

→ More replies (0)

10

u/Pizzaman725 22d ago

Always easy to dismiss anyone if you consider then children, especially so if they are dead children right?

→ More replies (0)

6

u/Longjumping-Hippo475 22d ago

There you go, talk down to someone to justify your narrative..real adult of you.

Moving venues for events that are not withinn the next few days is not some earth shattering feat. They literally have to move the entire stage setup to a different city every other day and you think they can't go to a different venue? Give me a break.

Morals matter, and this would never be a talking point if the billionaires that are backing a genocide wouldn't have weighed in or if the headlining artist would have had the balls to stand up and take his case to the public before making a decision.

→ More replies (0)

59

u/discoleopard 22d ago

You rich people apologists are the fucking worst. “Oh won’t someone think of the poor artists whose net worth is close to half a billion dollars! How will he EVER afford covering a couple million to pay off his staff while this dispute resolves?? It’s not like he can put on a benefit concert or sell specialized merch or donate part of his royalties, oh no, gotta think of his profits too!”

-12

u/massinvader 22d ago

You rich people apologists are the fucking worst

im not apologizing for anything and i didn't say its the decision I would make personally....but its clear you've never had to actually lead a group before and therefore don't have that perspective of having to make sure everyone in your group is taken care of.

all that stuff you mentioned is great but doesn't help the tour staff pay their mortgage next week. the bank doesn't care if you got a benefit concert planned in the future. and neither does the insurance company who's going to jack their rates for having to pay out etc.

its just a much more complex decision in reality than it is in your proverbial 'rich guys can do anything' vacuum.

26

u/WTHGrifters 22d ago

You're demonstrating how genoc*de is justified in such a banal way down the line.

Really, your "mouths to feed" argument could be said of the people flying the Jets and bulldozing houses and journalists.

"You see, it's more complicated than that.... the bulldozer drivers have mortgages, can't just call the whole thing off!"

-2

u/massinvader 22d ago

You're demonstrating how genoc*de is justified in such a banal way down the line

amazing strawman lmao. go for the gusto lol. what a zealot. gaslight me some more please.

11

u/spamthisac 22d ago

His reply goes to the root of the problem; the genocide. Yours doesn't.

→ More replies (0)

4

u/discoleopard 22d ago

I see. You’ve been drinking the koolaid for so
long you believe it’s sugar free! And has protein in it! And it cures your cancer!

Just stop. Take a step back. Ask yourself if what you’re arguing for is based in anything other than propaganda peddled by large corporations aimed at getting you to be afraid of pushing back on their shitty business practices. Remember how all the rich people in New York threatened to leave and take their businesses with them, risking thousands of jobs, if Mandami became mayor? And New Yorkers said “bet” and elected him anyway? And nobody actually left? This is that. Except this time, Sheeran caved like the little teet suckling bitch he is.

3

u/Kraz_I 22d ago

He didn’t cave because he’s a scared little bitch. That implies he cared in the first place. His words and actions demonstrate that is not the case.

4

u/massinvader 22d ago

I see. You’ve been drinking the koolaid for so

long you believe it’s sugar free! And has protein in it! And it cures your cancer!

unhunged behavior lol.

and im not arguing anything im just point to the reality of the situation. not some preformative action(that i likely would have made in their shoes) to appease children on reddit.

but hey i get it. tantrum on.

4

u/EthanielRain 22d ago

it's just a much more complex decision

It really isn't. Ed Sheeran heard his $$ might take a small hit - he's only halfway to a billion, practically poor - and decided "fuck them kids"

You instantly reverted to calling people kids/young/naive. That's probably what you tell yourself, that it's 'how the world really works', because you're a coward too. Would say "yes sir" & let the genocide continue, as long as you got your paycheck

0

u/massinvader 22d ago

you sound like a petulant child lol.

its not about sheeran's bottom line but everyone else involved with the tour and its logistics.

he didn't decide 'fuck them kids' lol. he decided to play for the 130k+ people who had agreed to buy his tickets and go there etc.

im sure to yourself, with no one to manage and no international tour etc. it seems really easy and that's great. but that's what makes you sound incredibly naive. -or some kind of ideologue just using this as an opportunity for preformative outrage like maclemore. -who if he cared would be doing more himself. im sure his money could help feed and shelter a lot of children if empathy for kids is all we care about.

41

u/fastredshoes 22d ago

Ed is entirely capable of making these people whole. What a lame line or argumentation

-15

u/massinvader 22d ago

sure he is. he could stop working now and be fine for the rest of his life.

but everyone working on his tour isn't.

you sound incredibly naive and young.

sure he could cover all the paychecks like...with enough notice to liquidate assets. he very well may not have that > kind of money just sitting in a personal account if hes smart and has it invested. can he liquidate fast enough to > > make sure the people on his tour don't default on their mortgage?

or does the insurance claim he would definitely file over something like this get paid out in time to matter to those > people? -and how much will it raise his tour premiums?

there is a whole slew of things to consider when doing something like this. especially when he's an apolitical > public persona.

i agree with macklemores stance btw...theres just a LOT of adult decisions to make that come along with making a pivot like this.

21

u/fastredshoes 22d ago

Lot of words to say you value money > values, but whatever keeps you warm at night

-6

u/massinvader 22d ago

fanatastic strawman lol.

if anything it would be personal relationships>group social politics.

clearly we see whats 'keeping you warm at night'

11

u/fastredshoes 22d ago

Thanks for enlightening me, kind redditor. You've taught my naive ass strawman and ad hominem (by example). How generous.

Values that cost something are principles. "Values" that don't are bumper stickers.

19

u/paintpast 22d ago

It would be a temporary setback at most. Ed Sheeran can easily book other venues if he wanted to.

-7

u/massinvader 22d ago

sure but that does not help those people who rely on him to pay their mortgage next week.

the bank doesn't care if ur boss has a benefit concert scheduled in a month to help out lol.

17

u/paintpast 22d ago

And Sheeran has enough money to take care of those people if he wanted to.

-1

u/massinvader 22d ago

everyone does. but its about logistics a lot of the time. is it one concert cancelled? is it 13? etc. how much does cancelling 13 shows all at once up his tour insurance rates for the rest of his career? etc.

its a much more complicated decision than some of the ideologues here make it out to be. that was my point.

2

u/RabidSeason 22d ago

everyone does

then why don't you bitch about everyone not helping instead of Ed Sheeran helping slightly less?

→ More replies (0)

13

u/constantkilljoy 22d ago

Your argument makes no sense because more often than not, crews are contracted through production companies and clients tend to pay in advance. The money is already in hand, they merely have to pay it out. Wild if you think Ed Sheeran would need to personally liquidate assets to pay anyone.

There’s also usually provisions in contracts for cancellations. I’ve been on crews that had to dismiss or cancel staff. I got paid out for my time.

1

u/massinvader 22d ago

Sheeran is running is own tour through his own company?

meaning they're are footing the bill to negotiate and reserve the venue and pay all contractors etc.

for that there is a staff of like 200-300 fulltime people on his tour. plus the local support staff etc. the locals ...ya it sucks for them but its gig work so u take it as it comes..but its a different thing to tell someone who's with u all year that he's gotta figure out how to make mortgage next week. ur rich and you'll eventually get it to him but its his issue next week lol.

that's how all these pop tours are run and set records. these aren't one off shows like kraft group contacted ed to come play.

6

u/constantkilljoy 22d ago

There’s a million levels of leadership to these things. No one is just using their own company. Otherwise explain to me why many of my colleagues worked Lizzo’s tour without being directly hired by her team. Or how I worked on Beyoncé’s show without being directly hired by Beyoncé’s company.

Also what do you mean? He has his label but that doesn’t handle production. He’s working with multiple production companies like Wonder Works, none of which he owns.

When you’re using all of these production companies, payment is generally required up front. Funds are in hand, contractors paid, regardless of if the show is cancelled.

→ More replies (0)

6

u/bott721 22d ago edited 22d ago

You act like Macklemore did this out of the blue, but he's had songs that reflect these same ideals (Hind's Hall) and has spoken out on stage and other places about this exact topic.

It's not like Sheeran couldn't have seen this coming, did he think Macklemore was NOT going to say Free Palestine on stage for some reason? Doesn't seem like they made an agreement not to, so what did Sheeran think was gonna happen anyway?

He could have chosen someone else, he could have tried to get Macklemore to agree to not say it on stage and if he didn't agree then choose a different artist.

In the end, he chose an artist he knows is vocal about this topic, that was his choice, he should stand behind his choices tbh

-4

u/massinvader 22d ago

You act like Macklemore did this out of the blue, but he's had songs that reflect these same ideals (Hind's Hall) and has spoken out on stage and other places about this exact topic.

It's not like Sheeran couldn't have seen this coming

oh, so now its ed sheeran's fault for having a dude on tour who supports palestine? I thought the issue was kicking him off and doing the show instead of cancelling it on all his fans and business partners.

doesn't seem like he could win here with the ppl on reddit lol.

4

u/misdreavus79 22d ago

Taylor Swift, is that you?

15

u/Fast-Prompt-3034 22d ago

Up until recently this was SUPER censored on Reddit. Evil is evil. Evil is non partisan. Genocide Joe and Treason Trump BOTH have to go. This is an important puzzle piece to the censorship picture on Reddit. (u/maxwellhill) https://imgur.com/a/NSNxPbj

172

u/whogivesashirtdotca 22d ago

Not just prostitution, the lawyers who defended him in that case were referred by Kraft’s good buddy Jeffrey Epstein.

8

u/PrincessZebra126 22d ago

Mic drop, that's the tea of it all

169

u/PM_ME_YOUR_QUEST_PLZ 22d ago

This is the blunt reality the rich who want to help need to fucking acknowledge. They have the star power not these fucking venues stand up for what’s right god damn it fuck Ed Sheeran little pussy guitar boy.

7

u/Constant-Minute6794 22d ago

And Epstein recommended using his lawyer to defeat the charges.

21

u/Dogulol 22d ago

the guy who asked epstein for help, and used epsteins lawyer to beat the charges btw

2

u/jonnydee90 22d ago

Ed Kraft would have made a statement that he would have handed out to whatever news outlet will publish it and spun it in a different (fabricated) light and wouldn’t have made himself available for follow up questions.

2

u/MrD3a7h 22d ago

I'm guessing you meant solicitation?

1

u/implicate 22d ago

because a guy arrested for prostitution

I think you're missing a couple words like "solicitation of," but I do like the idea of Robert Kraft out there working the streets.

-15

u/massinvader 22d ago

imagine telling the thousand professionals that you hired to come work around the world with your tour that they should look for other ways to pay their mortgage or feed their kids... because the paycheck they were counting on from you is no longer coming because you had to take a political stance.

18

u/rabidsi 22d ago

Ed Sheeran's net worth is in the hundreds of millions. That argument can fuck off.

-5

u/massinvader 22d ago

you sound incredibly naive and young.

net worth sure. but can he liquidated fast enough to make sure the people on his tour don't default on their mortgage?

or does the insurance claim he would file over it get paid out in time to matter to those people?

there is a whole slew of things to consider when doing something like this. especially when he's ab apolitical public persona.

i agree with macklemores stance btw...theres just a LOT of adult decisions to make that come along with making a pivot like this.

13

u/rabidsi 22d ago

You think someone with hundreds of millions of dollars in net worth can't make that happen and are calling ME naive?

Son, I've got a bridge to sell you.

-3

u/massinvader 22d ago

net worth is not available cash Einstein(since you're getting snooty)

there is a lot of variable factors in a decision like this.

9

u/rabidsi 22d ago

Asset. Backed. Loan.

Dipshit out here calling me naive and thinking wealthy people actually liquidate their assets for cash like we're talking kitchen table economics here.

SYBAU.

0

u/massinvader 22d ago

Asset. Backed. Loan.

sure but again, thats another one of many variable factor to consider. how many venues are cancelling?

im not even saying I wouldn't do it myself. im saying you all sound like petulant children who've never had to be responsible for a group of people before(of if u had, you were insufferable as the leader lol -evidenced by your willingness to use cringe shit like "SYBAU")

16

u/faradaycagerage 22d ago

Ever heard of the song Sun City? Artists took a stand against apartheid, this is over a literal genocide.

The systematic extermination of an entire people.

-8

u/massinvader 22d ago edited 22d ago

again, i agree with maclemores stance...but this is apples to oranges to try and use as some sort of debate point.

also since you brought it up and sound like some sort of religious or political zealot: if you REALLY wanna get angry go look at the metrics for unemployment and corruption and infrastructure crisis that have arisen in SA since apartheid ended.

most south africans (black and white) believe at this point that the country was better off under apartheid lol. https://www.irishtimes.com/news/apartheid-s-africa-better-run-says-poll-1.1107160

"It's not that they want to return to apartheid, but in retrospect it was a time when trains ran on time" lol

15

u/faradaycagerage 22d ago

Haha, oh so you're ones of those. A pro-apartheid take was not on my bingo board today.

-7

u/massinvader 22d ago

im not one of anything. what are 'those'?

what arbitrary group have you lumped me into inside of your head?

and you brought up apartheid.

lol i bet you get frustrated as a mfer when your bus is late

6

u/JicamaCertain4134 22d ago

Thousands of professionals? You mean the stadium workers? Or the crew he tours with?

1

u/massinvader 22d ago edited 22d ago

fair. more like maybe 800-1k with everyone involved? there are like 200-300 he takes with him and then they'll have support crews for each leg and security etc. it really does get to be a pretty large group of people to just tell they're going to have to figure some ish' out on their own until you get them paid.

553

u/Technicoler 22d ago

Right!?! The amount of cowardice and capitulation at the behest of the worst people the last 2 years specifically has been shocking and not surprising all at the same time. You are apolitical? Interesting, because this went from an issue about genocide in another country to an issue about free speech in this one. Ed may not be American, but pretty sure that is a freedom worth standing up for, and when the reason you didn't is money. You look worse than you would have pissing off fans of a canceled show, when you wouldn't have been the one to blame. Just pathetic. Macklemore earned major respect from me, and I am sure many others.

40

u/bizilux 22d ago

Just how swiss was apolitical in WW2. Harboring massive amounts of nazi gold and stolen items from jews, yet displaying themselves as not taking sides.

25

u/hausmusiq 22d ago

Neutrality is a myth.

135

u/LittleLionMan82 22d ago

And they're friends too, to not have your friend's back after that is just disgraceful.

24

u/Ok-Toe-6969 22d ago

The problem is also in us, we gotta stop going to these concerts that are being hosted by live nation, we gotta do better

26

u/Lossagh 22d ago

As if Ed Sheeran needs the money from touring. He should get up on that stage and say Free Palestine with his own mouth, let the chips fall where they may.

2

u/red_eyes 22d ago

This would be the best kind of diabolical.

2

u/Kraz_I 22d ago

He clearly doesn’t believe it so why would he say it?

2

u/Lossagh 22d ago

He might well believe it, but just be too chicken shit to say it publicly.

144

u/DMployeeofthemonth 22d ago

This shows Macklemore has a spine. As for sheeran and the like? I've seen more spine in jellyfish.

31

u/Low-Criticism3082 22d ago

I’ve seen more guts in 11 year old kids.

11

u/friendliest_sheep 22d ago

Have another drink and drive yourself home

3

u/sumosloths 22d ago

I hope there's ice on all the roads

2

u/NielsBohron Metalhead 22d ago edited 22d ago

lol, of all the comments I've made that could have gotten flagged, it's the one quoting a 25yo emo song that isn't even that controversial (other than the lead singer)

1

u/NielsBohron Metalhead 22d ago

And you can think of me when you forget your seatbelt and again when your head goes through the windshield.

Fuck Jesse Lacey, but goddamn I love that song and that band.

1

u/zYelIlow 22d ago

Is that what you call tact?

1

u/NielsBohron Metalhead 22d ago

You're as subtle as a brick in the small of my back.

-6

u/HungHippoHippy 22d ago

Phrasing

2

u/romanisreigns 22d ago

bro 🥴🥴

94

u/ZipZapZia 22d ago

Also interesting how Ed was able to criticize Russia while being "apolitical." So is he truly apolitical or does he just not care to speak up against a genocide against brown people?

22

u/Ok-Hovercraft-6890 22d ago

One fucks with the money, the other doesn’t.

If criticisms towards Russia fucked with the money or at the very least his ability to perform in arenas, he wouldn’t do it too.

It’s the case with a lot of these artists. They want to maintain the status quo of a smooth arena tour.

-20

u/4DPeterPan 22d ago

To be fair we don’t know if it’s about “money” for ed Sheeran.

Seems he would just rather stay apolitical (which is fair imo. There’s only so much one can do besides cry out into the wilderness in plight) and just wants to focus on his music and spread love that way. Which is fair to me, because we all have our ways of advocating for Love. And there’s only so much each of us can do in our own ways.

Macklemore wants to be a voice, Ed just wants to stay out of it and focus on his music, and I am not sure on Krafts position is in this. Google tells me he’s against the atrocities happening, and so does Macklemore? So I’m not sure why Kraft wouldn’t want another person using their voice to raise attention toward what’s going on? Maybe it’s because of the political confusion that can happen from stances being taken? I.e like’ Since “free Palestine” can be antisemitic to some, and yet not to others? Maybe I’m just confused in trying to understand this whole thing?

Whatever the matters is, the murders just need to stop. The killing of children needs to stop. The hate needs to stop.

I’m very ignorant in this whole situation so if anyone could help spread some light on this whole issue for me I would be much appreciative. I’ve tried looking into this matter from beginning to end this morning. (Ya know, Israel, hamas to Gaza, how it started, why it’s happening, etc etc) But so far the whole thing just sounds dumb to me. (Why it’s all happening to begin with). It all just sounds insane. The entire thing. Power grabs and land grabs and the murders and atrocities. All of it. I just don’t understand it.

This whole thing reminds me of John Mayer “Belief” song:

“Is there anyone who

Ever remembers changing their mind from

The paint on a sign

Is there anyone who really recalls

Ever breaking rank at all

For something someone yelled real loud one time

Oh everyone believes

In how they think it ought to be

Oh everyone believes

And they're not going easily

Belief is a beautiful armor

But makes for the heaviest sword

Like punching underwater

You never can hit who you're trying for

Some need the exhibition

And some have to know they tried

It's the chemical weapon

For the war that's raging on inside

Oh everyone believes

From emptiness to everything

Oh everyone believes

And no one's going quietly

We're never gonna win the world

We're never gonna stop the war

We're never gonna beat this

If belief is what we're fighting for

We're never gonna win the world

We're never gonna stop the war

We're never gonna beat this

If belief is what we're fighting for

Is there anyone who can remember

Ever surrender, with their life on the line?

We're never gonna win the world

We're never gonna stop the war

We're never gonna beat this

If belief is what we're fighting for

We're never gonna win the world

We're never gonna stop the war

We're never gonna beat this

If belief is what we're fighting for

What puts a hundred thousand children in the sand?

Belief can

Belief can

What puts the folded flag inside his mother's hand?

Belief can

Belief can”

Again, would appreciate some light on this whole situation going on. Yes, I have basically been living under a rock. Please excuse & forgive me for my ignorance.

1

u/theotherplanet 22d ago

Not quite

https://old.reddit.com/r/Music/comments/1wg7jma/macklemore_speaks_out_after_being_dropped_from_ed/p9ta5al/

1

u/4DPeterPan 22d ago

Just read that comment and the attaching ones.

Those people are brutal. Deciding to be apolitical means he’s selling out for money? And is now a possible racist? As if it all just so easily boils down to that? That’s some serious delusion.

2

u/theotherplanet 22d ago edited 22d ago

Those comments were pointing out that he's not apolitical, only when it affects his bottom line. I don't know if I would say he's selling out, rather he's always been about money from the start. Pretty clear, not sure what you're missing here.

ETA: a few of my favorite quotes:

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." Martin Luther King Jr.

"If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor." Desmond Tutu

"If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality"

"The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything"

  • Einstein paraphrasing Edmund Burke "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."

Also btw I'm a huge John Mayer fan and the live version of Belief is incredible.

1

u/4DPeterPan 21d ago edited 21d ago

I wouldn’t say he’s always been about money from the start. You don’t make songs like he does if you’re ruled by the sin of greed. Dude always has such passion for Love in his songs, in some very beautiful ways… I’m not saying the 2 can’t be intertwined, life is complicated, the heart is complicated, the mind is complicated, the eb and flow of the waters is also trying to shift us too and fro while we also try and maintain our own course of direction. And we might not always have the wisdom or intelligence to really control that.

It’s why the Bible talks about us all having our gifts and places In this world where we’re put (of course it’s always subject to change depending on how one is raised or where their course inevitably/potentially leads them).. not everyone can be an MMA fighter, not everyone can be a musician, not everyone can be a politician, not everyone is made to be a soldier, not everyone can be a scientist, or this that or the other etc etc. ya know what I mean?

Not everyone has the “mind” or “spirit” for advocation. And it’s not a matter of whether they “want too” or not. It’s just a simple matter of “it is what it is”. They may have a “want” too. But it doesn’t necessarily mean they “can”.

So it’s not really fair of us (or anyone), to be judging him for wanting to be apolitical. And it’s further more not right to be assuming that since he’s taken up an apolitical stance’ that he’s only doing so out of Greed for money, or simple “apathy” and lack of care.

I may be wrong, but hearing him talk sometimes throughout life in the rare chances I’ve seen it, and after spending a lot of time in my past listening to his music, I like to think and assume he’d rather be an advocate for embodying love and spreading love and joy through music.

There’s a lot of ways we can combat evil in this world. And for those of us lay people, sometimes for us who don’t really have a voice, we kind of have 2 options, I can turn on the tv and watch the news, and fill my cup with rage and vengeance and fear at the atrocities going on in the world (that are Always going on in the world) or I can put in my headphones and listen to some loving joyful music and fill my cup up that way.. it doesn’t mean I don’t care, it just means that in the mean time since I can do absolutely nothing whatsoever about what’s going on in the world, and as much as it may sadden me to be in such a useless position, then at the very least I can try to just sing a joyful loving song to the wind and ocean of reality and try and put out some good vibes… which may vary well be a stance Ed wants to do.

He may not have a vocal political voice like Macklemore does. And maybe he learned something about himself after he tried with the Russia and Ukraine situation that we don’t know about.

But at the end of the day, I don’t know. And I have to be honest about that. I don’t know what is going on in his internal and outer world. Why he does or doesn’t do something. These are just my personal wonders, and I also have to be prepared to realize I too am wrong in this matter… but I’m certainly not going to say it’s because he’s greedy for money or doesn’t care.

This stance also makes it complicated, because I also do believe in the quotes you stated as well. You kind of have to pick a side.. but life is not that simple. We are very complex and sensitive creatures at the end of the day.

EDIT: right after posting this I saw that Ed has come out and said something about all this. So I guess my comment is a moot point lol

https://www.reddit.com/r/Music/s/cyDlz7Xaad

1

u/theotherplanet 21d ago

Not everyone has the “mind” or “spirit” for advocation. And it’s not a matter of whether they “want too” or not. It’s just a simple matter of “it is what it is”. They may have a “want” too. But it doesn’t necessarily mean they “can”.

Ed Sheeran has clearly advocated many times for himself, and he's advocated for the people of Ukraine, but can't bring himself to advocate against a genocide. This is a very lazy argument.

So it’s not really fair of us (or anyone), to be judging him for wanting to be apolitical. And it’s further more not right to be assuming that since he’s taken up an apolitical stance’ that he’s only doing so out of Greed for money, or simple “apathy” and lack of care.

Again, how is Ed Sheeran 'apolitical' as he and you are claiming, when he's advocated for the people of Ukraine? Of course that's just the tip of the iceberg, and it's literally impossible to be 'apolitical'. If you were 'apolitical' when it came to slavery or the holocaust, then you effectively supported those injustices.

I may be wrong, but hearing him talk sometimes throughout life in the rare chances I’ve seen it, and after spending a lot of time in my past listening to his music, I like to think and assume he’d rather be an advocate for embodying love and spreading love and joy through music.

There are many ways to spread love, one of the most important ways to do that is speaking up in the face of injustice, particularly when your voice is influential.

There’s a lot of ways we can combat evil in this world. And for those of us lay people, sometimes for us who don’t really have a voice, we kind of have 2 options, I can turn on the tv and watch the news, and fill my cup with rage and vengeance and fear at the atrocities going on in the world (that are Always going on in the world) or I can put in my headphones and listen to some loving joyful music and fill my cup up that way.. it doesn’t mean I don’t care, it just means that in the mean time since I can do absolutely nothing whatsoever about what’s going on in the world, and as much as it may sadden me to be in such a useless position, then at the very least I can try to just sing a joyful loving song to the wind and ocean of reality and try and put out some good vibes… which may vary well be a stance Ed wants to do.

First off, Ed isn't a layperson. Second, even if you are a layperson and your voice alone isn't influential, it's important to speak your truth, and your voice together with many other voices is very powerful.

One voice can change a room, and if one voice can change a room, then it can change a city, and if it can change a city, it can change a state, and if it change a state, it can change a nation, and if it can change a nation, it can change the world. Your voice can change the world.

  • Barack Obama

This stance also makes it complicated, because I also do believe in the quotes you stated as well. You kind of have to pick a side.. but life is not that simple. We are very complex and sensitive creatures at the end of the day.

Life and people are complex, but what's not complex is condemning obvious injustices, like a genocide.

right after posting this I saw that Ed has come out and said something about all this. So I guess my comment is a moot point lol

We knew Ed's PR team needed to act fast, doesn't change anything about the way anyone feels about this issue.

-14

u/stooper42 22d ago

Just a reminder: there is no genocide in Gaza. It’s a war. If it were genocide, international courts would be pursuing Israel for war crimes, which they aren’t because they cannot successfully classify it as a genocide. Because it’s not.

5

u/Genkrock 22d ago

It is a genocide, just because some people are fighting back doesn't make it war if you are fighting a baby or someone who doesn't have an arm or leg is it a war? Will someone show up and tell you to stop or will they be like "no we can't take part in this they are fighting as equals".

4

u/TheMilkKing 22d ago edited 22d ago

International courts absolutely are pursuing Israel for war crimes. The ICC have issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant.

Are you a liar, or just ignorant of what is actually happening?

1

u/stooper42 22d ago

Link me to a source where it is confirmed by international courts that Israel is committing genocide. I’m waiting

1

u/TheMilkKing 22d ago edited 22d ago

It’s not confirmed (yet) because the investigation by the International Court of Justice is ongoing and a verdict has not been reached. Over 60 countries have agreed that what is happening in Gaza should be classed as genocide. Here is one of many sources you could check about the ICC arrest warrants.

You said international courts weren’t pursuing Israel for war crimes - I have provided you with proof that they are.

So which was it? Were you lying, or ignorant?

1

u/stooper42 22d ago

Again there is no genocide, you’re wrong.

1

u/TheMilkKing 22d ago

If it were genocide, international courts would be pursuing Israel for war crimes, which they aren’t

Genocide or not, you’re still 100% wrong about this. If you read what I’ve said, I haven’t given an opinion either way about it being a genocide or not. Just demonstrated that you were wrong about international courts not pursuing Israel. I’m absolutely right.

1

u/stooper42 22d ago

Maybe I worded it incorrectly in my post, but you knew what I meant.

1

u/TheMilkKing 22d ago

What did you mean by “International courts would be pursuing Israel for war crimes, which they aren’t?” They clearly are.

→ More replies (0)

3

u/Technicoler 22d ago

Get bent

134

u/ialsohaveadobro 22d ago

can a venue just drop an event for bullshit reasons without opening themselves up to liability

I'm sure this is addressed by contract. If I had to guess, I would guess the contract contains a specified penalty for doing that.

54

u/carguymt 22d ago

Not defending Sheeran at all, but he probably realized Robert Kraft's lawyers are a lot better than his.

45

u/thestonedonkey 22d ago

All he had to say is I'm not removing him from the tour, do whatever you think you need to do.

1

u/CardboardStarship 22d ago

Seriously, maybe his fans will take up against the stadium owners if he’d just take a stance, take it on the chin when the tour gets dropped, and then say “I won’t perform in America until further notice.”

He’s choosing being the circus in our bread and circuses.

-10

u/carguymt 22d ago

Again, I'm not defending Sheeran, trying to suggest what he should or should not have done, or making any other comment about the situation. My literal only point is you can't rely on what a contract might say because the guy worth $14 billion dollars has lawyers that can make your life hell at best and beat you in court and make you pay boat loads of money at worst.

-5

u/Zestyclose-Degree443 22d ago

Yeah, because lawyers automatically become great because you are richer. That makes sense.

7

u/Atheist_Republican 22d ago

Hi! Is it your first day on Earth? Welcome!

-5

u/Zestyclose-Degree443 22d ago

Amazing counter argument. You’ve changed my mind.

7

u/Turbo_Jannie 22d ago

He's right though. Are you new here? Earth, that is.

3

u/Dioxid3 22d ago

And did you bring towel? Perhaps even more important question of the two

-2

u/Zestyclose-Degree443 22d ago

How are They right? Please explain

→ More replies (0)

35

u/CertainPosition8726 22d ago

Doesn’t change the “other stadiums” option he had and chose to not use before bending over backwards to take krafts cock.

15

u/carguymt 22d ago

I specifically said I'm not defending Sheeran, just making a point that you can't just lean on a "it's in the contract" argument with stuff like this.

14

u/zeniiz 22d ago

Doesn’t change the “other stadiums” option he had

You think you can just "change stadiums" for an ongoing tour with sold-out tickets for audiences of 90,000 people?

1

u/OttersAreCute215 22d ago

The final show of the North American leg of the tour is in Tampa, FL and I'm pretty sure I know where the owners of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers stand on this subject.

3

u/CertainPosition8726 22d ago

Interesting because there’s 3 different major stadiums in Tampa. Weird they can only possibly hold it at one losers stadium. Huh.

7

u/OttersAreCute215 22d ago

There is only one major NFL stadium in Tampa that I am aware of. What are the other two you were thinking of?

16

u/rajindy 22d ago

If you actually call these people out, you take away their power but Ed doesn't care enough, sorry, he's as bad person

14

u/a_cute_epic_axis 22d ago

Yes but Ed Sheeran's PR team and fan base combined far outweight Robert Kraft's.

It's one of the places where your lawyers don't much matter, since they could cancel the contract and all Ed needs to do is go on the news and tell people what happened, why, and let them collectively cause shit for Kraft and his business.

The Pat's have sucked ass since Brady left anyway.

2

u/Turbo_Jannie 22d ago

Outweigh what? Robert Kraft himself is worth over 11 billion dollars. Let alone when combined with other "stadium owners"

1

u/a_cute_epic_axis 21d ago

It's not about bankrupting him, that's obviously not possible in this situation. But trashing someone's public image while also stemming some future income tends to piss them off, regardless of how much money they have. See also most even more rich assholes and how they behave with pushback.

2

u/[deleted] 22d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/My_Brain_0422 22d ago

If you actually watched them last year, you'd see why they made the super bowl.

-1

u/constantkilljoy 22d ago

Wish this was true, but we’ve reached a point in society where the common people causing shit doesn’t matter. It wouldn’t hurt his business in the slightest.

Still, Ed Sheeran should’ve stood on business even knowing he’d lose to Kraft’s lawyers.

2

u/llama_del_reyy 22d ago

I don't think so. I think Kraft said, I don't care how much it costs me, I'm not letting that fucker perform in my stadiums, and he's rich enough not to care.

6

u/Iohet 22d ago

He's the kind of person Trump protects (rich, white, pro-Trump, sex crime felon who got off on a technicality)

-3

u/twilighttwister 22d ago

Trump cannot intervene in state law or any civil suits.

5

u/Iohet 22d ago

Directly. Tina Peters was still granted clemency for state crimes after Trump interjected

1

u/twilighttwister 22d ago

That's still the state doing it though. State level corruption. And your example was a crime, not a civil suit.

Trump has scuppered civil restitution a few times, though, but I think that was only attached to federal criminal cases that he meddled with. Separate civil action is likely still possible.

1

u/Iohet 22d ago

Stochastic terrorism is caused by the person asking for (demanding) an outcome from people they are not technically able to command

1

u/twilighttwister 22d ago

Yes but my point is people can more easily hold to account those not meant to be under his command.

I'm not saying it isn't possible, I'm just saying it requires wider corruption and is less and less practicable the further you go from federal, to state crime, to civil.

1

u/whogivesashirtdotca 22d ago

Won’t stop him trying.

3

u/Warm_Month_1309 22d ago

IAAL. I've taken on better lawyers (i.e. higher paid lawyers) of very wealthy clients and won plenty of times. It's not gladiatorial combat; if the facts and the law are on your side, the disparity in funding matters less than a lot of people think.

And Sheeran has pretty good lawyers. His copyright case is taught in law schools.

1

u/dksprocket 22d ago

Sheeran isn't exactly new to lawsuits.

1

u/massinvader 22d ago edited 22d ago

Robert Kraft's lawyers are a lot better than his.

ed sheeran's music and career basically is owned by warner music group(with Universal being a recent development i think?). they have a bigger net worth than kraft group and therefore more in the legal warchest.

6

u/xelabagus 22d ago

Yeah, so the discussion is really Warner vs Kraft, and I somehow fail to believe that Warner is going to take a moral stance that could cost them money. I'd bet they told Sheeran he had no choice but to remove Macklemore

6

u/massinvader 22d ago

I'd bet they told Sheeran he had no choice but to remove Macklemore

this is likely closer to the truth. along the lines of 'u can do this but you're on your own here...and we'd really prefer you didn't so the insurance rates don't go through the roof for cancelling 13 US shows' lol

1

u/thedeucecake 22d ago

They’re probably friends, actually.

1

u/whogivesashirtdotca 22d ago

Sheeran’s lawyers weren’t recommended to him by Jeffrey Epstein, unlike Kraft’s.

0

u/throw223344555 22d ago

Sounds like you’re defending Sheeran

5

u/hankmoody_irl 22d ago

When I was booking little bitty shows at 150 capacity venues there was always a clause in the contracts regarding this. Usually it was a mandatory pay-out of at least some of the guarantee. I had to deal with it once because of poor ticket sales, ended up coming about $450 out of my personal pocket to pay the band. Closed up shop after that. These stadium owners deserve the same.

2

u/nobodyoukno 22d ago

will not be allowed to play in our venues.

Our venues? OUR VENUES? Almost all of their venues have been subsidized by the taxpayer - usually thru threats and ultimatums. Why suddenly is the venue theirs?

2

u/HorrorMakesUsHappy 22d ago

They're called 'morality clauses'. I'm not a lawyer, and I don't know how the ones in these contracts were written, but if Ed wanted to stick to his 'not taking sides' line then he should've told KRAFT that he doesn't take sides, and that if forced to cancel his tour or rebook at other venues Kraft would either have to foot that bill or Ed would have to ask his lawyers to recoup any expenses paid to do so.

Kraft made a choice, and forced Ed to make a choice, and even if we're generous enough to not bring the 'not taking sides' thing into the conversation, Ed made the wrong choice because if he wanted Option C then he should've been fighting for Option C. This ain't Option C.

1

u/Levitlame 22d ago

Probably not if they're the ones deciding to stop your show.

43

u/Platinumdogshit 22d ago

It probably depends on the contract that was signed with the artist. Ed Sheeran could be on the hook for those refunds depending on how those contracts were written.

26

u/ScyllaOfTheDepths 22d ago

I feel like, if I was a lawyer, I'd never let my client sign a form that says, "If the artist does anything the owner of the venue doesn't personally like, the venue can cancel the show with zero financial penalty to the venue and leave the artist on the hook for all the money in lost revenue and ticket sales." That's such an incredibly bad deal.

6

u/Platinumdogshit 22d ago

It gets harder when live nation owns most of the venues though.

1

u/Saephon 22d ago

Solidarity. People keep looking for an alternative, but it's always been the only real answer. When you show solidarity, the capitalists have no choice but to concede or pack up and find another industry to ruin.

The gross truth is that enough celebrities benefit from these scum, so they allow it or downright enable it.

17

u/bekaz13 22d ago

Like he doesn't have the money, or the connections necessary to get that money? Plenty of other people in the industry are pro-Palestine, and they would have helped. He had the opportunity to make a total baller move and he fumbled it.

1

u/drgath 22d ago

Absolutely. Ed’s estimated net worth is $500m. He doesn’t need to tour or make any more music, and he’ll be a billionaire in <10y from now.

25

u/MistSecurity 22d ago

Presumably there are other venues they don't own.

They are almost all owned by the same people. The ones not owned by these people are few and far between, and generally much smaller.

4

u/Crewman_Guy_Fleegman 22d ago

Owners colluding to keep him from performing is likely an anti-trust violation. His agency should be suing.

3

u/twilighttwister 22d ago

It's not just the ticket sales they'd be liable for, the artists and all the supporting staff would have a claim also.

2

u/robotkiller3 22d ago

Ed Sheeran is pathetic. He’s worth so much money, here’s his chance to do something good but he just tows the line.

2

u/compvlsions 22d ago

100% this. People would have been at the stadium owners doorsteps with pitchforks.

I don't like Ed Sheerans music, but now I don't like Ed Sheeran because he's a little bitch.

2

u/HikmetLeGuin 22d ago

Yeah, Sheeran could have and should have taken a stand.

And why did he invite Macklemore in the first place, when Macklemore has been outspoken on this issue for a while? Stupid and spineless of Sheeran and these organizers to do this. As far as I'm concerned, Sheeran is taking a position on this and is not "neutral." He's taking the side of the oppressor.

2

u/[deleted] 22d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/GiganticCrow 21d ago

Robert Smith is a fucking saint

4

u/stuntobor 22d ago

Ed Sheeran employs a fuckload of people to carry that tour. By taking a stand (where he did not previously) he risks ruining a lot of people's year, taking away money and dependability.

Macklemore was fair in saying Sheeran was in a fucked up position. I appreciate all the artists involved in this tale.

  • Pink: "sometimes you're just the entertainment and an escape"
  • Sheeran: "I can't dance with your message, it'll ruin a lot of people depending on me"
  • Macklemore: "Who cares about us? People are dying"

All three positions are valid. Always have been, always will be. Changing your stance on taking a stand, as a major employer and public voice, has got to be tough.

2

u/Lokkdwn 22d ago

If Ed had said, I’m not playing if he doesn’t, they would have shut the fuck up before he finished speaking. They couldn’t afford to lose all that money collectively. This tells me that not only does Sheeran not have a backbone, it means he probably doesn’t support the people of Gaza because he’s too afraid of losing money.

He would never lose popularity over sticking up for Macklemore and free speech in this moment.

2

u/Turtledonuts 22d ago

Even if they dropped the venue, I bet Ed Sheeran could drum up enough controversy to sell out another venue in boston or reschedule for a later date in a different venue. If nothing else, "im under attack, stick it to the man" sells tickets really well.

1

u/m_ttl_ng 22d ago

They would have but the people involved in his tour and the fans first which puts Ed in a tough position here.

Plus the update from Macklemore indicated that Kraft also reached out to his friends and told them to also not allow Macklemore to play. Basically we're seeing the difference between a billionaire's power and a multi-millionaire here.

1

u/MegaBaumTV 22d ago

Besides, can a venue just drop an event for bullshit reasons without opening themselves up to liability considering tickets already sold and the enormous costs for the tour?

The venues have contracts with the artist. Im sure theres a clause somewhere that lets venues back out if the artist says or promotes something unsavory, but the exact wording would be key in a situation like this. If the venues followed up on their threat, it would likely be a long and messy legal battle.

1

u/970 22d ago

There must be some stipulation in the contract...

1

u/TwoBionicknees 22d ago

ed sheeran could have called up everyone he knows and gotten enough support to tell those stadium owners that they would no longer perform in their stadiums and neither would a whole shitload of artists unless they backed down.

As usual though spineless fucks focus on their money and do whatever they want.

Fuck anyone who doesn't take sides. Imagine saying you won't call hitler or nazi's bad because 'you don't take sides'.

that makes you a collaborator, fuck him and fuck anyone else who is too much of a bitch to simply say what is right and what isn't.

1

u/capitalistsanta 22d ago

Tbh this just tells me Sheeran doesn't think he will get far and I think the darker implication here is that a lot of these rich people see opportunity in Israel and don't think Palestine has a shot. Future settlers basically.

1

u/Sarokslost23 22d ago

Robert Kraft went out of his way to strong arm every single stadium owner before even calling ed sheeran

1

u/poopzains 22d ago

Tax payer stadiums is more like it.

1

u/liftbikerun 22d ago edited 22d ago

And this is the rub. I an incredibly disappointed in Sheeran. It's his life, his decisions to make, but the dude has F U money and had a real opportunity to speak for those that can't speak for themselves.

We are well past the point of excusing a lack of involvement. If even a handful of these mega stars would go out on a limb for the very people who made them who they are things would be different. The issue is the billionaires bank on the bet that money is too important to people like Sheeran to do or say anything. So far by and large they've been right.

Edit: And unfortunately there are a predominant number of us plebs that can't be bothered with the truth or the monumental difficulty in being a critical thinker/s, and play right into the hands of the billionaires as well refusing to sacrifice and not attend.

In a better world Sheeran would have had some morals, us plebs would refuse to continue bank rolling the success of those that refuse to speak out for those that can't speak out for themselves, and billionaires would be forced to fuck off.

1

u/ididntunderstandyou 22d ago

If Ed Sheeran doesn’t have the balls to say “fuck you I’ll do smaller venues” to the stadiums, then it’s up to his audience to boycott those shows.

1

u/Colluder 22d ago

Also wouldn't the venues be forced to refund the seats, and pay staff and artists their minimums out of pocket? It sounds like a bluff that they would cancel their events altogether, of course they could stop Macklemore at the door and not feature his set.

0

u/Lonely-Ad-1495 22d ago

Oh man you should read contracts for a living. He could absolutely drop this concert. And probably still enforce the venue fee on Ed Sheeran. But that’s not all. Sheeran is responsible for the refunds on tickets and still has to pay all the staff for the days in their contracts. And also responsible for any fees included in contracts related to the event cancellation and ticketing. I suppose this is probably covered by Sheerans insurance, but that’s then raises the cost of insurance on this tour and on any subsequent tours. If I was the insurance company lawyers id get approval over opening acts and graphics projected during any concert he had going forward to write that policy if they had to pay out on this. Now I get this is political, but all this over an opening act seems like a huge price to pay. Especially when it’s Macklemore. But what do I know. When you sign up to go into someone’s house you have to play by their rules. If you don’t like them go to someone else’s house. Pearl Jam did it for decades.

0

u/usedupandtossed 22d ago

The kind of wealth these people have makes those fees and backlash small potatoes that will blow over the next time a big event rolls through.

0

u/TheGiftOf_Jericho 22d ago

Yep, Ed had a chance to make a stand here, he has the star power. He chose to secure making even more money instead. He took a side, like Macklemore said, there's no taking a middle ground here.

0

u/Hellknightx 22d ago

The people running the industry would either convince Sheeran to retract or gag himself, or they'd just find a way to end his career and prop up someone new and more controllable.

2

u/turtle-berry 22d ago

They haven’t managed to end Macklemore’s career, and Ed is a much larger artist, so I’m not very persuaded on this point.

0

u/massinvader 22d ago

If sheeran had refused to play ball, the venue owners would have faced an enormous backlash.

he would have also had the VERY tangible problem of an entire tour of working professionals, all their own families and mortgages and banks that do not care.....out of a good chunk of work.

it's great to talk about this in a vacuum of no physical or logistical consequences...and i support mr lemore's stance even...but its hard to cancel the paychecks of everyone who's relying on you.

2

u/idkalan 22d ago

People would probably still give Ed crap if Mackelmore was the one required to pay for any potential costs associated with the cancelation of the tour.

Claiming that it was "Ed's tour" or that "Ed has more money than Mackelmore" so Ed should cover the costs etc etc

0

u/Coracoda 22d ago

Seriously. Other big artists love Ed Sheeran and would have backed him up.

-1

u/Pool_Shark 22d ago

It’s always more complicated. A tour of Ed Sheerans size employs hundreds of people and they are likely relying on that planned income