I'd already turned my back on Ed in 2023 due to his lack of stance, same as his great friend Taylor. After last week, I rechecked all my streaming blocks against him were still in place. He cannot claim to be apolotocal any longer. Nor ignorant. You dont get such a stage to be silent or peddle complicity without repercussions. As always, Macklemore remains on my playlists, loudly.
Totally agree with you. He's not reading the room. There's no 'no politics', no neutral, no middle ground, when it comes to Genocide. You call it out. Or you're condoning it. It's that simple, Mr Sheeran
I got into debt caring for my elderly mother who was vulnerable during covid on cancer treatment. Now I am sort of losing my home, not repossession or anything but I have to downsize to clear debts and get back to caring for now 89 year old mum, so goodbye beloved home of 26 years, buy cheaper place next door to mum because she has nobody else. I have to move somewhere anyway.
Really depressed about it, for some time now.
But today I realised that Ed Sheeran has millions of pounds, will never lose his home but I would never want to fuck up my integrity like him any more than I would wish to be bombed like the people in Gaza.
Thinking of poor Ed, my integrity feels so good I think I can get through this.
Far too many words deconstructing Ed Sheeran's decision to comply with demand from billionaire Kraft to boot Macklemore off the tour , this came with mob style warning, Kraft made sure other stadium owners would make the same demand.
Ed Sheeran was long time friend and familiar with Macklemore's politics- his song about murdered Hind was delivered against backdrop of footage of the carnage and destruction that is Gaza today.
Was Ed paying attention?
Maybe the mistakes Sheeran alludes to, is giving Macklemore a chance to address huge stadiums of Americans with his message - Free Palestine.... loud enough to be heard in Gaza and the Occupied West Bank, to applaud Columbia University students who lost funding, scholarships , faced arrests and detention, in support of Palestinian fight for end to Genocide, for freedom to determine their own future as a State. This is what landed Sheeran in trouble. Forced into open Sheeran's deep connection with Kraft. Sang at his wedding, was photographed with Israeli hostages. Ed had no problem raising funds for Ukraine.
Going ahead with tour, 'alone', a victim, reading a teleprompter comment with Israeli talking point as an opener, then concluding his gig with an apology for the PR scripted apology , crying , because Ed ' now knows who his friends are'- what! Nauseating self serving self pity.
Ed Sheeran threw his friend under the Israel lobby billionaire class bus. Simple .
Macklemore , rest of acts , his band, had lot more to lose than Sheeran. Sheeran had options, he was not powerless, he and his acts were contracted , they had leverage.
Too many are being removed , sacked, attacked for supporting Palestine, quietly - the same MO, pressure applied from the top down- complaints lodged with bosses, venue owners, school governors, NHS trusts, arts , museums, social media , like Kraft's operation , surveillance of anti Israel comments, demanding sanction, sacking, ruining careers as punishment and warning to others , stay silent and detached to avoid trouble.
The least complicated issue is the Genocide- the crimes being committed in Gaza, ethnic cleansing in West Bank- in plain sight with impunity.
His apology is a a rherorical disaster and a failure of character.
I can see a few tidbits of improvement. But otherwise what a mess.
Vagueries, evasions, self-pity, self-justifications, ignorance, deception, pretence, self-delusion, witlessness, narcissism. I can't adequately sum it up.
What an opportunity for self- and public-education. For genuine discovery, self-correction, humility, clarity, even possibly some small help for Palastinians.
Even possibly some assistance for the Resistance, for those battling the corporate-capitalist-billionaire-oligarchy stranglehold on the planet. A chance to foreground the problem, maybe reach a whole new sector of the public.
But there was none of that. He made it all about him.
Agree, as usual, with everything said in this incisive, thorough and brilliant post, so typical of Owen Jones. I would add how *incredibly offensive* I found the 'personal abandonment' framing in the second video attached in this post. There's no tone deafness quite like whinging on about your personal abandonment when an *entire people* have been ABANDONED TO THEIR UNHOLY HELL OF A FATE FOR THREE YEARS NOW WITH ONLY FAKE CEASEFIRES FOR BREAKS. Utterly distasteful.
I'm not a fan of Ed Sheeran so maybe it was easier for me to spot the following (rather superficial, compared to Owen's analysis) tics displayed by Mr. Sheeran during the "apology" clip (the first video):
1) he seems to actually *pause* to anticipate the applause of the crowd - which struck me as rather grotesque considering the subject;
2) I've never seen anyone well up with tears while reading off a teleprompter before - I suppose you can draw your own conclusions on that one.
***
Only a true Ed Sheeran fan could have been taken in by this grossly insultingly both-sidesing, ludicrously self-centered bullshit "apology."
ES sitting on the fence being supposedly ‘apolitical’ doesn’t wash after “standing for Ukraine”. It just shows people who you are , a teleprompter reading castrati shill POS without any discernible talent who’ll say anything for money 🤮
The generous interpretation is that Sheeran isn’t a terrible person, just very mixed up, quite stupid and self absorbed. He’s still trying to sit on the fence, make everyone happy and go on with his ‘career’ as if it can all just go back to ‘normal’ now. It can’t. The only thing to be done is a heartfelt, genuine apology in which he names and condemns Israel, its Western allies and Kraft, cancels the tour and takes the financial hit.
Sheeran knew what he was doing when he added Macklemore to his tour. This was ALWAYS possible. Unfortunately, actions have consequences, and you can’t just read a ChatGPT apology and expect us all to get over it.
I'm tempted to compare and contrast with Pau (Pablo) Casal's refusal to perform in Spain after General Franco won the Spanish Civil War, and for the Nazis during the Second World War. And with Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger and others of that ilk. Pete Seeger would never have read from a teleprompter!
Excellent analysis Owen. The sick, barbaric, inhuman treatment of Palestinians by Israel is there for the world to see. Sitting on the fence is tantamount to complicity. There is another sinister undercurrent playing out here that was highlighted in the film never look away. In a totalitarian state . “Art is always in the crosshairs. Art must be controlled: what can and cannot be said, as well as how things must be said. Ideologues demand that art should be uplifting, art must carry the ‘correct’ message….. What on earth would happen if artists were free to make the art they want to make? “ source: https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/never-look-away-2018
I'd already turned my back on Ed in 2023 due to his lack of stance, same as his great friend Taylor. After last week, I rechecked all my streaming blocks against him were still in place. He cannot claim to be apolotocal any longer. Nor ignorant. You dont get such a stage to be silent or peddle complicity without repercussions. As always, Macklemore remains on my playlists, loudly.
Totally agree with you. He's not reading the room. There's no 'no politics', no neutral, no middle ground, when it comes to Genocide. You call it out. Or you're condoning it. It's that simple, Mr Sheeran
I wonder if I owe Ed Sheeran thanks for this.
I got into debt caring for my elderly mother who was vulnerable during covid on cancer treatment. Now I am sort of losing my home, not repossession or anything but I have to downsize to clear debts and get back to caring for now 89 year old mum, so goodbye beloved home of 26 years, buy cheaper place next door to mum because she has nobody else. I have to move somewhere anyway.
Really depressed about it, for some time now.
But today I realised that Ed Sheeran has millions of pounds, will never lose his home but I would never want to fuck up my integrity like him any more than I would wish to be bombed like the people in Gaza.
Thinking of poor Ed, my integrity feels so good I think I can get through this.
Thanks Ed.
Prayers for you and your mom. You're a good son. Your mom is blessed to have you in her life.
And that makes you richer than poor, morally confused Ed 😊
I wonder how long the PR agents spent writing that non apology?
Evidently not a long time, considering how pathetic it was
Far too many words deconstructing Ed Sheeran's decision to comply with demand from billionaire Kraft to boot Macklemore off the tour , this came with mob style warning, Kraft made sure other stadium owners would make the same demand.
Ed Sheeran was long time friend and familiar with Macklemore's politics- his song about murdered Hind was delivered against backdrop of footage of the carnage and destruction that is Gaza today.
Was Ed paying attention?
Maybe the mistakes Sheeran alludes to, is giving Macklemore a chance to address huge stadiums of Americans with his message - Free Palestine.... loud enough to be heard in Gaza and the Occupied West Bank, to applaud Columbia University students who lost funding, scholarships , faced arrests and detention, in support of Palestinian fight for end to Genocide, for freedom to determine their own future as a State. This is what landed Sheeran in trouble. Forced into open Sheeran's deep connection with Kraft. Sang at his wedding, was photographed with Israeli hostages. Ed had no problem raising funds for Ukraine.
Going ahead with tour, 'alone', a victim, reading a teleprompter comment with Israeli talking point as an opener, then concluding his gig with an apology for the PR scripted apology , crying , because Ed ' now knows who his friends are'- what! Nauseating self serving self pity.
Ed Sheeran threw his friend under the Israel lobby billionaire class bus. Simple .
Macklemore , rest of acts , his band, had lot more to lose than Sheeran. Sheeran had options, he was not powerless, he and his acts were contracted , they had leverage.
Too many are being removed , sacked, attacked for supporting Palestine, quietly - the same MO, pressure applied from the top down- complaints lodged with bosses, venue owners, school governors, NHS trusts, arts , museums, social media , like Kraft's operation , surveillance of anti Israel comments, demanding sanction, sacking, ruining careers as punishment and warning to others , stay silent and detached to avoid trouble.
The least complicated issue is the Genocide- the crimes being committed in Gaza, ethnic cleansing in West Bank- in plain sight with impunity.
His apology is a a rherorical disaster and a failure of character.
I can see a few tidbits of improvement. But otherwise what a mess.
Vagueries, evasions, self-pity, self-justifications, ignorance, deception, pretence, self-delusion, witlessness, narcissism. I can't adequately sum it up.
What an opportunity for self- and public-education. For genuine discovery, self-correction, humility, clarity, even possibly some small help for Palastinians.
Even possibly some assistance for the Resistance, for those battling the corporate-capitalist-billionaire-oligarchy stranglehold on the planet. A chance to foreground the problem, maybe reach a whole new sector of the public.
But there was none of that. He made it all about him.
Just, wow.
Just Wow! Says it perfectly.
Agree, as usual, with everything said in this incisive, thorough and brilliant post, so typical of Owen Jones. I would add how *incredibly offensive* I found the 'personal abandonment' framing in the second video attached in this post. There's no tone deafness quite like whinging on about your personal abandonment when an *entire people* have been ABANDONED TO THEIR UNHOLY HELL OF A FATE FOR THREE YEARS NOW WITH ONLY FAKE CEASEFIRES FOR BREAKS. Utterly distasteful.
I'm not a fan of Ed Sheeran so maybe it was easier for me to spot the following (rather superficial, compared to Owen's analysis) tics displayed by Mr. Sheeran during the "apology" clip (the first video):
1) he seems to actually *pause* to anticipate the applause of the crowd - which struck me as rather grotesque considering the subject;
2) I've never seen anyone well up with tears while reading off a teleprompter before - I suppose you can draw your own conclusions on that one.
***
Only a true Ed Sheeran fan could have been taken in by this grossly insultingly both-sidesing, ludicrously self-centered bullshit "apology."
💯
ES sitting on the fence being supposedly ‘apolitical’ doesn’t wash after “standing for Ukraine”. It just shows people who you are , a teleprompter reading castrati shill POS without any discernible talent who’ll say anything for money 🤮
Brilliant piece, Owen. Sadly, Ed’s friends certainly found out who he is.
Absolutely agree with your excellent analysis and take on Sheeran's heinous and outrageous behavior, Owen.
The generous interpretation is that Sheeran isn’t a terrible person, just very mixed up, quite stupid and self absorbed. He’s still trying to sit on the fence, make everyone happy and go on with his ‘career’ as if it can all just go back to ‘normal’ now. It can’t. The only thing to be done is a heartfelt, genuine apology in which he names and condemns Israel, its Western allies and Kraft, cancels the tour and takes the financial hit.
Sheeran knew what he was doing when he added Macklemore to his tour. This was ALWAYS possible. Unfortunately, actions have consequences, and you can’t just read a ChatGPT apology and expect us all to get over it.
Thank you for this excellent, eloquent piece.
Done with him. Don't need to see his face.
I'm tempted to compare and contrast with Pau (Pablo) Casal's refusal to perform in Spain after General Franco won the Spanish Civil War, and for the Nazis during the Second World War. And with Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger and others of that ilk. Pete Seeger would never have read from a teleprompter!
Excellent analysis Owen. The sick, barbaric, inhuman treatment of Palestinians by Israel is there for the world to see. Sitting on the fence is tantamount to complicity. There is another sinister undercurrent playing out here that was highlighted in the film never look away. In a totalitarian state . “Art is always in the crosshairs. Art must be controlled: what can and cannot be said, as well as how things must be said. Ideologues demand that art should be uplifting, art must carry the ‘correct’ message….. What on earth would happen if artists were free to make the art they want to make? “ source: https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/never-look-away-2018