Israel / Palestine

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Beebo

Beebo

Legendary Member
Ed Sheeran offers muted support to Macklemore, and throws his promoters and venues under the bus.
It’s not easy for an artist who clearly doesn’t want to be dragged into this quagmire.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3vgyn49y4l7o
 
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Psamathe

Psamathe

Legendary Member
farfromtheland said:
Me too. Sheeran is big enough to be stronger. I'll bet the collab was calculated to some extent. Chicken.
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Plus, I assume he has the right of veto over who they chose for a replacement support act eg if they were to book "The Crankies Christmas Extraviganza" as a support Sheeran would undoubtedly say "err, NO".

So he just makes it clear to those doing the booking he'll veto every act other than Macklemore.

From what I've seen reported Macklemore's comments were quite reasonable, balance and not calling on anybody to do anything and objections causing his sacking were from "American nonprofit organization whose mission is to preserve and strengthen the Israeli and Jewish identities".
 
F

farfromtheland

Regular AND Goofy
Psamathe said:
Plus, I assume he has the right of veto over who they chose for a replacement support act eg if they were to book "The Crankies Christmas Extraviganza" as a support Sheeran would undoubtedly say "err, NO".

So he just makes it clear to those doing the booking he'll veto every act other than Macklemore.
Click to expand...

I too read extracts of Macklemore's responses - surprised to find this XP computer connects to BBC news when my Win7 one wouldn't - and found them dignified, moderate anfd generous.

Sheeran could have done something rather wonderful but didn't. I'd take the Crankies, but would they have him?
 
briantrumpet

briantrumpet

Timewaster
Psamathe said:
Plus, I assume he has the right of veto over who they chose for a replacement support act eg if they were to book "The Crankies Christmas Extraviganza" as a support Sheeran would undoubtedly say "err, NO".

So he just makes it clear to those doing the booking he'll veto every act other than Macklemore.

From what I've seen reported Macklemore's comments were quite reasonable, balance and not calling on anybody to do anything and objections causing his sacking were from "American nonprofit organization whose mission is to preserve and strengthen the Israeli and Jewish identities".
Click to expand...

All Sheeran's other support acts are refusing to play now. Karma.
 
Psamathe

Psamathe

Legendary Member
briantrumpet said:
All Sheeran's other support acts are refusing to play now. Karma.
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So Sheeran now a real "outlier". Everybody else doing the right thing, Sheeran on his own.

Wonder if the Crankies Christmas Extravaganza are also refusing.
 
Pblakeney

Pblakeney

Shaman
In other news, things are only going to get worse.

The Trump administration is planning a $2.8 billion munitions sale to Israel that includes 40,000 heavy bombs. A U.S. official told Reuters the package, first reported by the Washington Post, has been informally communicated to relevant congressional committees and includes 20,000 MK 84 and 20,000 BLU-117 bombs, both 2,000-pound munitions Israel has regularly used in Gaza and Lebanon. The State Department and Israeli embassy did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
 
Pross

Pross

Guru
This all feels a bit unfair on Sheeran. I'm not a fan and he comes across as a bit of a d!ck at times in interviews but I can't recall him being a particularly political musician. He has invited another act to tour with him which is a pretty big opportunity for them as I suspect many, like me, had never heard of them before. In return they decide to use that opportunity as a political platform without apparently having agreed this with Sheeran or the tour promoters. No matter whether you agree with his views or not that's a pretty unprofessional way to behave and has now put Sheeran in a position where he is expected to make a stand one way or the other when I assume all he wants to do is keep performing (and making money). If he'd chosen to make political statements on stage himself the pile on would be fair but he didn't.
 
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AuroraSaab

AuroraSaab

Epic Member
I don't think he had much choice but to remove Macklemore. Touring and setting up large gigs employs hundreds of people. You can't just quickly move it to another venue. It would be nuts to sack them and disappoint thousands of people to accomodate one person, regardless of whether you think he has a right to use his support spot for politics or not.
 
Psamathe

Psamathe

Legendary Member
I think likely that those Israeli groups that raised the objections and in effect caused Macklemore to be sacked have achieved the opposite to their intent.

I've seen what Macklemore said (several times) and assuming that's not been "edited" seems he is expressing a view and it's polite, justified, not inciting anything, etc. So had those objecting groups just ignored it and few get to hear those comments and it's passed. But Israeli groups have dragged the issue into headlines, have Macklemore's comments repeated across front pages, broadcast in prime time news reports, lots of discussions all I've seem sympathetic to the plight of the Palestinians and expressing a range of negative views of Israel Government's behaviour.

Those Israeli groups have massively amplified Macklemore's comments, increased awareness of what is being done to Palestinians and turned public opinion further against the Israeli Government.
 
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