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[–] 174 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (41 children)

But instead of a gun, he's holding a bag of money. It must be really hard for a grammy award winning musician who is only worth hundreds of millions of dollars, who just wants to sell his music to everyone, including genocidal pieces of shit.

This is about a rich person, trying to play both sides, in a game of genocide. He doesn't deserve your sympathy. He cries on stage, because he wasn't succesful, not because he's sorry.

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  • [–] 11 points 2 weeks ago (7 children)

    I feel that maybe Kraft has something on him? I have no proof, and maybe Ed really is just a shit greedy fuck.

    And my mind is having a field day thinking about the outrageous things Ed is afraid will get out.

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  • [–] 21 points 2 weeks ago (5 children)

    It's not that complicated really. Ed Sheeran is a spineless coward, and he doesn't want to jeoparidize the career he's built by being the male equivalent of Taylor Swift. He just doesn't have any moral fibre.

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  • [+] -11 points 2 weeks ago* (4 children)

    I honestly don't understand how people keep forgetting this

    Gingers

    Have

    No

    Soul

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  • [–] 4 points 2 weeks ago (1 child)

    after seeing kraft getting other football owners to blacklist him, he only came out because he was afraid of getting blacklisted himself. even then hes trying to not bite krafts hand.

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  • [–] 14 points 2 weeks ago

    Did you miss the part where he’s already worth hundreds of millions of dollars? Ed Sheeran could play in pubs for the rest of his life and never have to worry about a thing. He’s just being greedy and self-serving.

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  • [+] -31 points 2 weeks ago* (29 children)

    This is about a rich person, trying to play both sides

    This is about a successful musician, taking no sides, not wanting anything to do with politics, who republicans successfully vilified and now every lefting is at his throat. Why is it so evil to not do politics? He's not harming anyone.

    He doesn't deserve your sympathy

    Dude grew up in a hardcore white family where he had no proper childhood and was basically forced to keep studying and playing music. People like that are not happy, trust me. RIP Avicii.

    He cries on stage

    Or maybe, just maybe, dude is tired of all this shit, wants to just do his job, but ends up being the center of one of the biggest celebrity dramas of 2026

    And no, I don't give a shit that he's rich, I'm not the type to start hating someone just because he's richer or more successful than me. He didn't get the money by stealing or exploiting.

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  • [–] 28 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (18 children)

    Why is it so evil to not do politics? He’s not harming anyone.

    It's impossible to "not do politics", that's a bullshit excuse for taking whichever political position is easier and more self serving, or requires less thought. Sheeran chose to comply with demands to deplatform one of his supporting acts, to silence dissent against zionist interests. There was no apolitical decision to be made. A choice not to act is still a choice. He had to pick a side and he picked the genocidal one.

    Don't get me wrong, I think what he did was dumb and selfish rather than deliberately evil, and I can sympathize with that to a degree. He just wanted to maintain a comfortable status quo. But we should recognize that inaction and compliance in the face of injustice makes us all complicit, and there are times when the degree of complicity is simply unacceptable.

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  • [+] -14 points 2 weeks ago* (17 children)

    You do realize he's not the one who did the ultimatum against Macklemore, right? There was no way he was going to continue. Ed's two options were cancel the tour and pay the dude (who supports genocide) 70 or so millions of dollars (cancellation fee), or just finish the thing.

    Even Macklemore came out to defend Ed and was quite clear he's not to blame.

    So, what would you do - pay Kraft 70 million, or continue solo?

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  • [–] 13 points 2 weeks ago (14 children)

    You do realize ed absolutely had the power to stand with Macklemore. He chose not to. Ed chose to support the genocide.

    Macklemore is being nice, as friends generally are.

    Ed Sheeran could not play this entire tour, and live the rest of his life financially stable and then have wealth leftover for his family's family.

    Dude who doesn't even need it, chose the genocide.

    I'm not buying this bullshit anymore. Human lives over money, every single time.

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  • [+] -17 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (13 children)

    How the fuck is an artist playing music = supporting genocide? How is refraining from political statements = taking sides? How is organizing a tour with Pro-Palestine people = being a complete wanker? Why is such massive cyber bullying okay when he literally didn't hurt anyone and was basically afraid? Lefties, u ok?

    EDIT: This might actually be my first time using a word "lefties" ever since I turned centric (was fully on the left, but over months Lemmy convinced me to keep a distance). Both far sides are nuts.

    EDIT: Another one: https://www.threads.com/@billboard/post/DddTCGrDot5/

    Not even the artists are on your bullying side. Conservatives did a move and now y'all are attacking the one guy that didn't do shit. How is he more hated than Kraft??

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  • [–] 9 points 2 weeks ago* (2 children)

    Again, claiming to not take a side when we can all see with our eyes that genocide is taking place, is in fact taking a side.

    Ignoring something IS a stance, I hate to be the one to apparently burst this bubble for you, but you can't just opt out of life and claim things don't matter to you.

    You're giving me the "I don't do politics and that's fine" argument.

    Politicians literally dictate our entire lives and silence in the face of political injustice isn't JUST a stance, it's downright cowardice.

    Also duh fuck Robert Kraft stop the crap man, two people can in fact work together to be pieces of shit.

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  • [+] -11 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 child)

    It's like with Russians and zionists where "if you're not with us, you're against us".

    "things don't matter to you" does not equal apolitism or nonpartisanship. Artists who refrain from politics or speaking on geopolitical matters were historically regarded as more respectful. Each time I saw one doing it, wave of people commented "maybe celebrities should not do political speeches", but I guess that's false if it's someone you agree with, and true if it's someone you disagree with, just like with censorship on opposite side.

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  • [–] 6 points 2 weeks ago

    Each time I saw one doing it, wave of people commented “maybe celebrities should not do political speeches”

    So you're just saying what you heard other people say, then? Why not think for yourself?

    I've never been critical of celebrities expressing political opinions. Lots of people never have been. Lots of people always thought that everyone has a right to express political opinions. It sounds like you're making up a hypocritical person and then castigating them, rather than actually reading what people are saying to you.

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  • [–] 7 points 2 weeks ago (5 children)

    "How is refraining from political statements = taking sides"

    It doesn't have to be taking sides. It is just not a good behaviour.

    Imagine someone is walking in the street and another person is killing a child. Is it taking sides to walk by and not even call the police? Maybe not, but it sure as hell is a horrible behaviour. Imagine now this person who does nothing is actually a prominent kid books' author. That is Ed in a nutshell.

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  • [+] -8 points 2 weeks ago* (4 children)

    He's an artist. I think you really need to understand what that means. Some inspire with action, some with protests, others with riots, someone else by offing some health insurance CEO, and then there are some who inspire people with songs. He's not the type to attack the killer, but he's the type to inspire 10 other people to fight back. What is so hard to understand about this?

    Answer me this - Did Ed bring attention to Palestine by organizing this tour, accepting Macklemore, allowing him to do his thing, and then getting into drama?

    You cannot tell me what happened hurt Palestine. It was straight up one of the more successful events that brought attention to Palestine.

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  • [–] 7 points 2 weeks ago*

    No, Macklemore is an artist. Sheeran's behavior has downgraded himself to professional clown.

    Answer me this - Did Ed bring attention to Palestine by organizing this tour, accepting Macklemore, allowing him to do his thing, and then getting into drama?

    Do you think this was intentional? I don't think Sheeran is that stupid, or that smart.

    You cannot tell me what happened hurt Palestine. It was straight up one of the more successful events that brought attention to Palestine.

    Maybe, but to me that just shows how all of the other Palestine advocacy has been having an effect. This is a result of years of (largely anonymous) tireless struggle for justice, not a random situation that "just happened" to break in favor of Palestine.

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  • [–] 6 points 2 weeks ago* (2 children)

    If there is anyone to thank for the publicity Gaza had gained through this, it is Macklemore who has taken a stance which is way more risky for him than is for Ed. He is just a neutral passanger in this drama.

    I am sure by just singing about peace Ed has done more than me in promoting peace then I have ever done with continously disseminating facts about what is going on in Gaza in online platforms or participating in demonstrations. But proportionally to our sphere of influence, what he has done is minute compared to mine. I am using most likely the totality of my sphere of influence where he is using literally none to hold state of Israel accountable for the genocide.

    For me, if I hold the wrong sign in those demonstrations, my life could be really seriously impacted, I might even lose my job. But is that the most I could do? Absolutely not, I could be in a flotilla but I am not brave (and probably not well connected) enough to do that. But I am definitely doing things that push me and move me out of my comfort zone. Ed? He stands to lose some money and maybe Israeli fans oblivious to atrocities committed by their home goverments. And all he does is make a declaration that looks more like playing both sides.

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  • [–] -1 points 2 weeks ago (1 child)

    If there is anyone to thank for the publicity Gaza had gained through this, it is Macklemore who has taken a stance

    Remind me, Macklemore joined what tour? Are you just going to ignore the fact that all of this happened because Ed organized a tour with people vocal about Palestine?

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  • [–] 2 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

    I mean it is not so far from saying if Robert Kraft hadn't built/sponsored stadiums than this tour wouldn't be and Macklemore wouldn't be able to voice his opinion. Not really, Macklemore would voice his opinion one way or another. That is the difference between people who are not afraid to voice their opinions, they do not need per chance drama to contribute. And we don't know if Ed organized this tour thinking Macklemore would voice his opinions in such a way and if he knew would he try to convince him not to or not. Again the difference between people who voice their opinions and those who don't, we can only speculate.

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  • [–] 3 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

    I'm sure you expected to do spy shit when you joined the CIA, instead you're here, claiming that Lemmy made you a centrist.

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  • [–] -3 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

    ...what? Spy shit? CIA? Yeah, many of you are still crazy.

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  • [–] 1 point 2 weeks ago (1 child)

    So, you're not a CIA shill? You're really trying to pin your political views on us? I'll male it even easier for you: once the revolution happens you'll end up in a laogai-style camp.

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  • [–] 1 point 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

    .....what the fuck are you talking about Jesse.

    Also, I'm from EU

    EDIT: I'm actually curious - what political opinion? The fact that both far sides are nuts (like you're successfully showcasing)? Would not CIA dislike me for shitting on far right? What political opinion would CIA hold? Pretty sure they are not independent and does what your government tells them to do.

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  • [–] 12 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

    Speak against genocide live on stage? Bash Kraft to the ground live on stage for what he did? Roll a list of brand shares that he has and tell people to boycott them? Declare live on stage that some portion of the concert revenue will be used to support Palestine aid groups? With any of these Kraft would have lost (and depending on how brave you are some would give him grounds for legal repercussions some would not). With the meek response that Ed has given, Kraft has gotten away with what he did. No consequences is how you don't get peace.

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  • [–] 12 points 2 weeks ago*

    It's true that he was in a corner and there was no easy way out, and I'm sure Macklemore never wanted to put him in that position. He still made the wrong choice though.

    He could have dug his heels in and defied Kraft, maybe cancel the tour, whatever it takes. If it cost him 70 million, he can afford that, but given the unreasonable basis of Kraft's demands, I expect there's a legal case to be fought there. He would have had a lot of support, and it would have been a public disgrace for Kraft. Sometimes you just need to grow a spine and do what's right. Money isn't everything.

    I do feel some sympathy for Ed Sheeran. He just wanted to do his thing and not be in the political spotlight. And when it comes to punishing people for complying with injustice, let he who is without sin cast the first stone. But I am glad of the conversation it has sparked. When the time comes to not comply, we need to recognize that moment, and we also need to recognize what it means to say "I don't do politics".

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  • [–] 23 points 2 weeks ago (4 children)

    taking no sides,

    No such thing, you're just taking the oppressor's side.

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  • [+] -17 points 2 weeks ago* (2 children)

    "If you're not with us, you're against us"

    -Zionists and Russians.

    You sure you want to take that stance? You sure you want to see everyone who does not agree with you as the supporter of evil? Sounds like oppressionism to me.

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  • [–] 15 points 2 weeks ago

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

    It’s not about whether people agree with me or not, it’s about what is actually happening in the world. Notice how Desmond Tutu didn’t say “you have to agree with me,” he said if you see injustice, you should support justice. He’s encouraging people to think for themselves, to analyze situations for themselves.

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  • [–] 9 points 2 weeks ago

    Except we aren’t talking about them. We’re talking about a genocide. People on the side of the genocide are deffo supporters of evil. Now go oppression yourself somewhere else.

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  • [–] 22 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

    Yeah no, you spend a decade making music about peace and making tons of money out of it. And then at a time when you have enough financial security and popularity you don't speak against child murderers? You don't even support your fellow artists who do? Then fuck off with love and peace, just go do country music about your problematic childhood or something. People in worse conditions have had their lives destroyed by zionist lobies because they have spoken against Israel. I don't expect everyone to be that brave, but if you have built a sphere of influence, fame and lots of money, I would expect you to give back to the community who gave you all these.

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  • [+] -19 points 2 weeks ago (1 child)

    He's doing what he can. He might not be a warrior, but at least he can convince others with songs. Your world view is depressing.

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  • [–] 14 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

    He can't even say that there is genocide or that it is the state of Israel who is killing children. The attack of Hamas in the Israel concert was horrific yes, I hope they rot in hell for that. But your opening band gets cancelled because they are pro-palestine, and you lead with that sentence? Tells me what I need to know. He is just dancing around the issue, trying to play both sides so he don't lose his comforts. Him demonstrating how far reaching zionist lobies are thanks to this rucus is more useful than anything he has ever done. I am sorry my world view is depressing to you but the actual world is even more depressing. If someone is getting rich from selling a view of world that is not, yet actually not doing anything of substance compared to their capability, that is hypocritical and more depressing to me.

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  • [–] 12 points 2 weeks ago

    Someone else who didn't do politics: Werner Von Braun. Slaves, death camps, American military funding, it was all the same to him as long as the rockets went up.

    Ed Sheeran can get fucked, and so can you.

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  • [–] [S] 6 points 2 weeks ago

    You simply don’t understand that Israel relies on famous people whitewashing its image. Musicians, actors, artists, comedians etc. all these people are essential to help Israel falsely portray itself as a beacon of light and freedom. As a perpetual victim. As a defender of minority rights. Once artists with a large public following begin to speak out, it knocks huge chunks out of the mask Israel has built for itself. That is why it relies on the likes of spineless people like Sheeran to play music that is ‘apolitical’. If he wanted to simply play inoffensive music, he should have continued to busk on the London Underground. Honest musicians know they have a stage to change the world for the better. British musicians have long done this, especially the politically conscious bands of eighties.

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