Ed Sheeran Speaks Out About Dropping Macklemore From Tour

a month ago by inclementimmigrant to c/music

Ed Sheeran has posted a statement about Macklemore being dropped from his stadium tour after making pro-Palestinian comments onstage.

Weak-assed shit

inb4_FoundTheVegan 115 points a month ago

“I am not complicit. I have my personal views on this devastating conflict. Just because I choose not to speak publicly, it doesn’t mean I don’t have them, and it doesn’t mean I don’t care. Nor does it mean I don’t support causes in my own, personal way.

You don't care enough to speak publicly. Which makes you complicit.

However, there is room for multiple approaches to the same end: peace. I choose to use my fame and platform to be a place of safety and sanctuary

Sanctuary for who exactly? Reminds me of Letters from Birmingha by Dr. King .

"the white moderate, who is more devoted to “order” than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says: “I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I cannot agree with your methods of direct action”; who paternalistically believes he can set the timetable for another man’s freedom; who lives by a mythical concept of time and who constantly advises the Negro to wait for a “more convenient season.”

Fuck Kraft for giving this ultimatum, Fuck the promoters for capitulating and fuck Ed Sheeran specifically for this both sides nonsense.

What the end goal here Ed? Hope Israel stops killing children and pray everyone forget you couldn't talk about it?

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Chozo 39 points a month ago

If you have to say "I am not complicit", then I automatically have a strong suspicion that you are complicit.

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inb4_FoundTheVegan 14 points a month ago

The mans idea of PR is writing a list of terms he doesn't want you to say.

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iamthetot 10 points a month ago

Not complicit in what, Ed?

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pdxfed 17 points a month ago

Nice, came here to post that absolute rock of a letter by King. Sheeran just wants to pretend it's quiet and peaceful while murders go on so he can collect maximum ticket money.

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Cybersec 5 points a month ago

Great quotes thank you

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impairedimperator -10 points a month ago

I think in this case he's entirely right, though. Ed Sheeran is a musician, not a political pundit. His job is to be good at making noise that people like, not to be up to date on geopolitics.

I don't understand this modern culture where celebrities are expected to have deep opinions on geopolitics. That's what geopolitics people are for.

Similarly, even if he did have an opinion, it would be worth about as much as....some dumbass celebrity talking about shit they don't much know about.

Kraft is the winner here: he managed to screw over a vocal supporter of Palestine while having someone else take the fall.

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qarbone 12 points a month ago

Genocide isn't geopolitics. It's a human rights disaster.

"Oh, can't expect poor, lil Ed boy to come out and say 'murder is bad'. He's just a frail little songbird, incapable of seeing and decrying wrong from right."

This isn't a discussion about taxation, infrastructure, or international trade. It is someone saying "we should free these suffering people from oppression and genocide," and another person says "make them stop talking."

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impairedimperator -3 points a month ago

Okay. Well, is this dude a genocide researcher, then? Why are we not holding his feet to the fire about Myanmar, or Burma, or any of the other genocides that nobody knows or cares about?

I think "I don't know" should be considered a valid answer from everyone who's day job is not related to geopolitics. Because that is the truth for most people: they don't know. Looking at Sheeran's statement, I don't get the vibe that he's a Zionist, I get the vibe of someone who hasn't spent much time thinking about the topic putting his foot in his mouth, even after his PR team told him to keep his mouth shut.

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inb4_FoundTheVegan 12 points a month ago

Ed Sheeran is a musician, not a political pundit. His job is to be good at making noise that people like, not to be up to date on geopolitics.

Poor Ed, he lives under a rock and is incapable of learning more when he receives criticism. His opening act has literally been making speeches and slideshows at his concerts for a few weeks but you think Ed somehow doesn't understand the words? "I just know how to play guitar, not understand new information".

Kraft is the winner here: he managed to screw over a vocal supporter of Palestine while having someone else take the fall.

I literally called Kraft out in the post. What do you mean? You're acting like no one is learning his name this week.

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impairedimperator -8 points a month ago

I'm sure he's capable of learning new information, but that doesn't mean he needs to have an immediate and public opinion on it. Again, he is an entertainer. His opinion on stuff that isn't guitar related doesn't really mean shit anyway.

That being said, Macklemore has been outspoken for some time. Sheeran putting him on the setlist is a statement in itself.

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inb4_FoundTheVegan 6 points a month ago

Again, he is an entertainer. His opinion on stuff that isn't guitar related doesn't really mean shit anyway.

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iamthetot 8 points a month ago

He had no problem being a political pundit when he declared support for Ukraine, or opposing Brexit.

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impairedimperator -11 points a month ago

Huh. Didn't know that.

Primarily because I place no value on the geopolitical thoughts of people whose primary qualification is playing guitar.

What did he say about Myanmar?

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iamthetot 10 points a month ago

You personally placing value in his opinion is not the point.

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reptar 2 points a month ago

Hold on, they kicked out the band first, right? That's active

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impairedimperator 1 point a month ago

I don't think that was Ed Sheeran's call. Kinda seems like that was Robert Kraft's call, and Ed Sheeran's financiers backing down.

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tooq 74 points a month ago

"I choose to use my fame and platform to be a place of safety and sanctuary, to maintain diplomacy and keep conversations open, not closed. If we only focus on shouting the loudest, nothing will ever change. There are different approaches to being an advocate for change."

Fuck off, Ed.

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Perky 60 points a month ago

"Keep conversations opened" as he silently watches one side of the conversation get forcibly shut down by the other. Coward.

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tooq 16 points a month ago

Yup. Imagine having the ability to be heard by so many and choosing to stay quiet.

One doesn't always need to listen to or agree with the opinions of artists, but an artist who doesn't share their opinions is creating product, not art.

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metermatic26 65 points a month ago

“The suffering and pain caused on both sides is a human tragedy.”

…is exactly how not to comment on a conflict involving ethnic cleansing and possibly genocide.

But Ed already showed his true colors earlier, when he chose not to speak up about the US-Iran war, even though he’d just had a major hit with a Persian inspired song.

Go fuck yourself, Ed Sheeran.

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Zizzy 48 points a month ago

Scum. Supporting the erasure of defying a genocide does make you complicit. You have a platform and you had a choice and youve chosen to help censor someone elses. Complicit.

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FiniteBanjo 40 points a month ago

Yikes.

He seems to not care about the conflict at all, blaming both sides briefly and then going on to say Macklemore's contract was with the promoters and not him and that venues were promising to cancel the show if he continued to support Palestine.

Ed Sheeran will be remembered as a villain here, the correct choice would have been to pull out from those venues and threaten not to do the tour if the promoters continued to push for dropping Macklemore.

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Gerudo 33 points a month ago

I was really trying to hold off on my opinion of him until he made a statement.

Welp, guess my initial feelings when they didn't make a joint statement or a statement the same day, still stands. Not wanting to get involved is all the statement I need. Fuck off Ed.

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acosmichippo 19 points a month ago

If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice

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grue 31 points a month ago

Says "I am not complicit" then immediately demonstrates complicity. Words have meanings, you gaslighting asshole!

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rozodru 31 points a month ago

weak ass damage control after losing the rest of his opening acts. "lost lives on both sides" oh fuck off you little twat. Show me where the israelis are being slaughtered on the daily Ed, go ahead, show me.

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ccunning 25 points a month ago

“I am not complicit. I have my personal views on this devastating conflict. Just because I choose not to speak publicly, it doesn’t mean I don’t have them, and it doesn’t mean I don’t care. Nor does it mean I don’t support causes in my own, personal way.
“There is a reason I do not use my professional platform for politics – my audience includes young people, often children, of all backgrounds. Those who come to my shows do not expect a political forum. I respect Macklemore’s strength of purpose to stand up and shout for what he believes. However, there is room for multiple approaches to the same end: peace. I choose to use my fame and platform to be a place of safety and sanctuary, to maintain diplomacy and keep conversations open, not closed. If we only focus on shouting the loudest, nothing will ever change. There are different approaches to being an advocate for change.

“I choose to use my privilege to exercise my privilege rather than speak out on others behalf”

Got it buddy…

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ultranaut 24 points a month ago

I am shocked at how bad his statement is, I don't think he has a PR team. Or maybe they are intentionally trying to sabotage his reputation. This "explanation" is just ridiculous and insulting on so many levels. I can't believe he actually does "both sides" and "I am not complicit", it's about the most weak ass pathetic statement he could have put out.

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the_q 22 points a month ago

"My bottom line!"

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ColeSloth 18 points a month ago

He was more than happy to speak up for Ukraine a few years back, so saying he doesn't want to say anything or pick a side now over this is pretty damning. Really, after this statement, there's no going back. Fuck him.

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inclementimmigrant 4 points a month ago

Yeah, but billionaires don't have a weird ass hard-on for Ukraine unlike the genocidal Israel government so it didn't trigger his complete cowardice for cash.

But yeah, fuck this guy.

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Nouvellalia 3 points a month ago

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kreskin 17 points a month ago

Squeal like a pig as the zionists bend you over the table and use you for their evil, Sheeran. You spineless centrist moron.

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darthsundhaft 14 points a month ago

Dude is pulling a Kamala Harris and not opening his eyes to genocide. Fucking dumbass.

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the_riviera_kid 14 points a month ago

Ed can fuck off

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Hermit_Lailoken 8 points a month ago

Sellout says what?

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theuniqueone 8 points a month ago

Nothing but cowardly excuses.

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Jubei_K_08 7 points a month ago

Finneas on the right side again 👍

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froufox 3 points a month ago

W family

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stoly 6 points a month ago

Up until now, I kept going "wait, it's not his fault, it's Ticketmaster/Live Nation". This response changed my opinion entirely.

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ActualGrapesTasteGreen 6 points a month ago

All I know is if I was staring down the barrel of cutting loose a fellow artist or capitulating to venues, I'd've made a different choice.

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tooq 6 points a month ago path: 0 25843298, hotness: undefined, score: 6, children: 0
mintiefresh 5 points a month ago

"In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends."

Martin Luther King, Jr.

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DarkFuture 5 points a month ago

The only bad thing about all this is having to stare into his soulless eyes in all the pictures of him over the last 48 hours.

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AllNewTypeFace 5 points a month ago

So no guillotine pass for Ed after the Revolution then?

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ironpangolin29 4 points a month ago

Who does he think he is? Woman beating Chris Brown?

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lemmyng 4 points a month ago

Ed Shit-his-pants-and-Ran.

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FluidBeef 3 points a month ago

I wish I was a pop goblin with an enormous platform so I could use it to say nothing and defend the status quo.

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qarbone 2 points a month ago

This is entirely a non-sequitur to his failings in standing aside for Zionist pressure.

Why does his hair suck? He's rich, yea? Is the shitty hair part of the "average man" brand? It always looks like a rowdy uncle just ruffled his hair.

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Nouvellalia 2 points a month ago

Maybe it's boy bangs? It looks like he's trying to hide a receding hairline behind a "youthful" messy hairstyle.

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Pherenike 1 point a month ago

Fuck. Off. Ed.

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desmosthenes 0 points a month ago

does he have a lazy eye?

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MedicPigBabySaver 0 points a month ago

Robert Kraft is a Zionist POS.

Ed is a ginger with no soul.

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ThePantser -8 points a month ago

Remember, he's a ginger. This is it for him.

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givesomefucks -16 points a month ago

Two big things most people seem to be willfully not even attempting to understand:

Macklemore asked to join my tour last year and I agreed, because I respect him as an artist. As with all my support acts, I agree that they play a setlist of their choosing.

and:

“Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter’s decision, it was not mine. Macklemore’s contract for the tour was with the promoter, not me.

Too many accounts want people to focus on the guy that gave Macklemore this platform to say it, and for no one to look at the people who stopped Macklemore from saying it again.

It's really hard to tell if it's people repeating Israeli propaganda because they fell for it, or they know blaming Ed is bullshit and hoping to get others to fall for it.

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Chronographs 40 points a month ago

He could still push back and actually defend macklemore instead of acting as if he has no pull on what happens on his own tour.

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Sanctus 26 points a month ago

For real, hes the artist. The publisher needs him. If he turns around and says I support Macklemore what can the publisher do but grovel? People aren't paying to see them, they are paying to see the artists.

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scrubbles 2 points a month ago

For real he had all the leverage right there. People need him to earn millions in the upcoming shows. He could have simply said that his decision was also final, and pulled out. He could have offered to do more shows at better stadiums, and let them figure out how to deal with the political fallout. Even hardcore fans while distraught would have been angry at the stadiums, not ed. He fucked up that entire situation against himself.

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givesomefucks -13 points a month ago

acting as if he has no pull on what happens on his own tour.

How the fuck do people not know about entertainment contracts in 2026?!

He didn't pay for this tour to happen, he signed a contract saying he would do the tour.

Macklemore signed a different contract.

If Ed doesn't perform, no one is ever going to finance a tour for him again.

At the bare minimum blame him in addition to the people who are actually responsible

All everyone is doing is ignoring the people who actually censored the comments they claim to be upset were censored.

How do you not understand that?

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Ferrous 14 points a month ago

How the fuck do people not know about entertainment contracts in 2026?!

Oh boo hoo. Didn't hold back Pearl Jam vs ticket master. Or Madonna vs the pope. Or NWA vs the FBI, or Lupe Fiasco vs Obama.

Having a spine and being absolved by history is well worth the cost of losing access to pansy billionaires' stupid, ginormous venues. The fans are coming to see the artists. The artists have the ultimate power. And Sheeran used his voice for nothing.

And for what? Sheeran is going to be dealing with the fallout from this fiasco for ages - the economic effects of this whole fiasco will likely be comparable to the effects of he were to simply tell Kraft to shove it, which should have been incredibly easy to do given how he's sitting on a $400m net worth. That is the definition of "fuck you money", and he fucken blew it. Limp-dicked pansy.

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givesomefucks -8 points a month ago

Why don't you spend even a fraction of this energy talking about Robert Kraft?

He's the billionaire who actually did this.

Seriously bud, take a deep breath, think for just a second, and tell me why you think everyone's focus is being diverted from Robert Kraft silencing Macklemore

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Chronographs 7 points a month ago

I don’t think anyone is defending the people who pulled Macklemore off the tour, we just can’t really know who they are. Personally I wasn’t asking for Ed to not perform but to actually say something in defense of Macklemore instead of just going ‘oh well, anyways’.

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givesomefucks -5 points a month ago

we just can’t really know who they are.

You absolutely can...

You just haven't put any effort into finding out what happened.

https://www.wgbh.org/...

Macklemore said he's not mad at Ed, it's not his fault.

He said Bob Kraft did it, and Kraft verified he did.

but to actually say something in defense of Macklemore instead of just going ‘oh well, anyways’.

Especially right now after reading the above text, it would be fucking wild if you really think you still know everything that fucking happened.

Things exist before you know about them, stop acting like trump, our society can not afford everyone to do that, and you all fucking are more and more every damn day.

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JeSuisUnHombre 20 points a month ago

I don't have to blame Ed for the situation to recognize that he's complicit. Saying nothing about Palestine only helps Israel. The attempt to make the shows apolitical is fruitless and ignorant. He may not be the one to silence Macklemore, but he finds it acceptable. No matter what he thinks he's doing, he's supporting Israel.

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givesomefucks -14 points a month ago

Saying nothing about Palestine only helps Israel

He is the one that got Macklemore on stage....

Knowing he'd say what he said...

You don't think that was beneficial?

You're just completely fucking incapable of seeing the value in that? It totally escapes your grasp and you somehow think that means he supports Israel

What the actual fuck is wrong with people?

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JeSuisUnHombre 13 points a month ago

He is the one that got Macklemore on stage

He accepted Macklemore's request to join, for the stated reason of artistic merit

Knowing he'd say what he said

Absolutely no evidence of that

that means he supports Israel

I never claimed to know how he feels about the situation. What I said was that the actions he's taking (or lack thereof) support Israel. That is true regardless of whatever he feels about the situation

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givesomefucks -5 points a month ago

Absolutely no evidence of that

Name any two songs he's made in the last five years besides Hinds Hall and Hinds Hall 2...

What I said was that the actions he’s taking (or lack thereof) support Israel.

Ok Charlie Murphy

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Chozo 10 points a month ago

“Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter’s decision, it was not mine.

If you believe this line, then I've got a bridge to sell you.

This is Ed's tour. Ed's event. Ed's name on the posters. Ed's promoter. Ultimately, this is Ed's decision.

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tooq 1 point a month ago

C'mon now, Sheeran is a huge name with huge power. He likely didn't push for booting Macklemore, but he did fuck all to tell the promoter and stadium owners to pound sand and keep him on the tour. Promoters and stadium owners don't make money without a product and Sheeran is huge product - Bland, spineless product that stands for nothing, but product.

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