Israel / Palestine

[farfromtheland]

Maybe he's weighed looking like a dickhead against disappointing the remainder of the 750k fans who bought tickets and have yet to see the shows.

Dickhead fandom is not a pretty picture.

 

[farfromtheland]

It is exactly what this is.

How is he pontificating?

By making a public judgement not to support his mate and his roots.
With consequences. Fandom works both ways.

And if the shows were cancelled, fans would get a ticket refund. Now they're stuck with an iffy show.

 

[Psamathe]

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.

Also I suspect headlining artist has more power than they think eg. Ed Sheeran tells those who sacked Macklemore "He had an important message so when I go on stage I'll be saying the same and it will get a lot more public attention when I say the same. I'm not walking out so over to promoter to make decisions".

 

[Rusty Nails]

By making a public judgement not to support his mate and his roots.
With consequences.

At the risk of being pedantic that is not pontificating.


Sheeran is already facing the consequences as other support acts drop out.

 

[farfromtheland]

I hear his mates have American girlfriends. I hope they give him a right going over.

 

[briantrumpet]

Also I suspect headlining artist has more power than they think eg. Ed Sheeran tells those who sacked Macklemore "He had an important message so when I go on stage I'll be saying the same and it will get a lot more public attention when I say the same. I'm not walking out so over to promoter to make decisions".

I've seen the comment elsewhere that the decision 'not to be political' in itself can be/is political. I think Sheeran is finding that out now, backed into a corner by a promoter who chose to raise the stakes by making demands. Sheeran made his choice, which is political whether he likes it or not.

 

[farfromtheland]

Also I suspect headlining artist has more power than they think eg. Ed Sheeran tells those who sacked Macklemore "He had an important message so when I go on stage I'll be saying the same and it will get a lot more public attention when I say the same. I'm not walking out so over to promoter to make decisions".

That would do.

 

[Psamathe]

He also makes it explicitly clear absolutely distinguishing between Israel and Jewish:

"... to all of my Jewish brothers & sisters, criticism of Israel, criticism of aparthied, being against genocide in no way is a criticism of you. My message is for peace ..."

Edit: fans seem to respond to the comments positively.

 

[Rusty Nails]

I've seen the comment elsewhere that the decision 'not to be political' in itself can be/is political. I think Sheeran is finding that out now, backed into a corner by a promoter who chose to raise the stakes by making demands. Sheeran made his choice, which is political whether he likes it or not.

I would prefer the word apolitical, otherwise we are getting into "if you're not for me you're against me" territory.

 

[farfromtheland]

"if you're not for me you're against me" territory.

Sometimes, and in this case, that's the only way to see it.

 

[Rusty Nails]

Sometimes, and in this case, that's the only way to see it.

So you do know what pontificating means.

 

[farfromtheland]

So you do know what pontificating means.

I am not that public a figure. My opinion doesn't lose anyone their job or waste fans' ticket money on a showmanship they bought in advance on false pretences.

 

[Rusty Nails]

I am not that public a figure. My opinion doesn't lose anyone their job or waste fans' ticket money on a showmanship they bought in advance on false pretences.

In a democracy anyone can pontificate, even it's a futile sort of pontificating.

 

[farfromtheland]

Including prisoners? But still, don't let the bastards grind you down.

 

[farfromtheland]

And since when is asking, 'Which side are you on?' pontificating? It's inviting the person questioned to do so, if anything.