Whilst the British singer stressed it was not his decision to remove Macklemore, he has defended his choice to stay politically neutral.
asserted
he → stress → choice
Billionaire Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots and a prominent supporter of and donor to Israel, called for Macklemore’s removal, calling his comments an example of hate speech which he would not endorse.
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he → call → which
With the next show of the North American Loop tour set for tomorrow, and no support acts in sight, The Standard breaks down how we got here and what you need to know.
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you → set → what
What did Macklemore say?
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Macklemore → say → What
He then launched into protest song Hind’s Hall, which condemns Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and was dedicated to pro-Palestinian protesters at Columbia University.
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which → launch → University
Images of the devastation in Gaza were shown whilst he performed.
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he → show → Gaza
Macklemore told the crowd that a large reason why he signed on to the tour was for the opportunity to speak on the ongoing conflict.
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he → tell → conflict
“So I could stand up in stadiums like this and say two words that are very near and dear to my heart: Free Palestine.
uncertain
that → stand → heart
“I said, ‘Free Palestine!’
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I → say → Palestine
I want those words to be loud and clear, so that people all the way in Gaza to the occupied West Bank know that we have not forgotten about them.”
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we → want → them
The following day, at his second appearance at the MetLife Stadium, he reiterated his previous message with a direct address to Jewish members in the audience.
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he → reiterate → audience
My message is for peace, love; for all human beings to be treated with dignity, respect and equality,” he said.
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he → treat → dignity
Removal from tour
Shortly after his remarks, the Israeli-American Council launched a petition asking Sheeran and his management to remove Macklemore from the remaining dates.
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Council → launch → dates
Read More
It claimed that the US rapper had used the platform of a global concert to “advance a one-sided political agenda”.
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rapper → read → agenda
Pink also waded in on the debate, stating that aspects of Macklemore’s performances frightened her.
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aspects → wad → her
“What I need is to be able to say, as a Jewish mom, ‘that scared me, and it scared people I love,’ without being told our fear is just propaganda, and without being told I’m somehow cool with genocide because I noticed?”
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I → need → genocide
Meanwhile, Macklemore took to social media to share footage of him declaring “Free Palestine”, while also explaining that his criticisms are not directed at Jewish people.
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criticisms → take → people
In a caption, he wrote: “Wanting all humans to be treated equal should never be controversial.”
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humans → write → caption
On Monday, September 14, Macklemore announced that he would no longer be playing the remaining dates of Sheeran’s Loop tour.
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he → announce → tour
In a lengthy statement on Instagram, the 43-year-old said that despite his long-standing friendship with Sheeran, “it can’t change my responsibility to tell the truth about what happened”.
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what → say → truth
Macklemore said that Kraft had organised the boycott, rallying other stadium owners who ultimately gave Sheeran the ultimatum: “If Macklemore stays on the tour, you will not be allowed to play in our venues”.
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you → say → venues
“Ed was in a f***** up position,” the rapper wrote.
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rapper → write → position
“He knew it.
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He → know → it
His typical apolitical stance was being challenged in a way it had never been before.
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it → challenge → way
Kraft later confirmed to NBC News that he removed Macklemore from Gillette Stadium following the comments made at MetLife Stadium, which he said showed a “broader history of rhetoric and imagery that we believe has been deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community”.
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we → confirm → community
Ed Sheeran responds
Macklemore’s statement was met with waves of support online, with celebrities such as Pink Panthress, Zara Larson, and Kelahni commenting praise under the post.
The following day, Sheeran issued a statement of his own, where he confirmed that Kraft had issued an ultimatum.
“I spoke with the venues at length all week to try and build a bridge,” he said.
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he → respond → bridge
“Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter’s decision; it was not mine.
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it → come → tour
He said he was “appalled by the conflict between Israel and Palestine", and described the "suffering and pain caused on both sides" as a human tragedy.
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he → say → tragedy
However, stressed that he is “not complicit”.
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he → stress → ?
“I have my personal views on this devastating conflict.
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I → have → 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.”
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I → choose → them
He said his audiences often include children and young people “from all backgrounds”, which is why he does not use the stage for politics.
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he → say → politics
Other support acts drop out
It didn’t take long for Sheeran’s other acts to drop out of the tour, as they expressed their solidarity with Macklemore.
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they → drop → Macklemore
Finneas, the brother of pop star Billie Eilish, said in a statement as he announced he would no longer be performing: “Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed."
“Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed," he said.
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he → say → oppressed
“I stand with Palestine and its people,” said Finneas, who had been due to support Sheeran on six South American dates later this year.
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who → stand → dates
Danish band Lukas Graham also announced that they would be leaving the tour.
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they → announce → tour
Writing on Instagram, they said: “We should be able to speak about war, about civilians being killed, about children who deserve to grow up.
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who → write → children
Wherever they live.
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they → live → ?
Whatever flag flies over them.”
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flag → fly → them
Irish singer-songwriter Aaron Rowe, who opened on the Australian leg of the tour earlier this year and resumed as a support act for the US in June, said he did not "take the decision [to quit] lightly”.
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he → open → decision
…and 34 more, not listed.
The Aporia
