• FauxLiving@lemmy.world
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    6 hours ago

    It’s a testament to the power of PR firms to control the narrative that everyone is talking about how terrible Ed Sheeran is for not canceling his tour to stand up to the venue owners.

    It is kind of odd that the venue owners, the actual people who made the decision to blacklist Macklemore, are treated by the majority of these social media posts like they’re not important.

    https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/pop-culture-news/macklemore-says-was-dropped-ed-sheeran-tour-patriots-owner-robert-kraf-rcna597736

    “Ed also told me that [Robert] Kraft had rallied some of the other stadium owners and collectively they gave him an ultimatum: if Macklemore stays on the tour, you will not be allowed to play in our venues,” Macklemore wrote.

    Why is Robert Kraft’s name not being mentioned at the top of the story? Ed Sheeran is bad because he didn’t stand up to who?

    Robert Kraft. That’s who did this, not Ed Sheeran.

    • IamMoonPie@lemmy.world
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      2 hours ago

      Robert Kraft and Ed Sheeran are not the same. This is a false equivalence argument. The “mass” is angry at Ed Sheeran because Ed Sheeran has “mass” appeal.

      While I understand you are speaking from a capitalistic power perspective, in that Krafts’ $15.2 Billion buying power compared to Sheeran’s $400 million buying power. I mean obviously.

      But Sheeran’s cultural buying power is not just astronomical but also profoundly meaningful. He had an opportunity to make a very LOUD stance — but instead he decided to kneel down mouth open.

      We already know Robert Kraft is a self righteous piece of human filth. The mass expects nothing of him, but much of Ed Sheeran.

      [Edited Grammar]

    • daannii@lemmy.world
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      2 hours ago

      Reminds me of how everyone blames heavier people for why airplane seats are so packed tight. Completely ignoring the fact that airlines made the decisions to keep shrinking seats and putting the rows closer together.

    • electric_nan@lemmy.ml
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      6 hours ago

      Kraft is an evil billionaire Zionist. We don’t expect anything less from him, though every story about this mentions his name. He used his leverage to bully Macklemore for his moral stance. Sheeran also has power/leverage and could have called Kraft’s bluff by standing in solidarity with Macklemore and the people of Palestine (like every other act has now done). Instead he punked out and both-sidesed a genocide.

    • zalgotext@sh.itjust.works
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      6 hours ago

      We’re talking about Ed Sheeran because he’s one of the few people on his tour not standing up to Robert Kraft. Pointing out Ed’s cowardice is mentioning Kraft’s name, at least implicitly.

  • baeb66@lemmy.today
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    5 hours ago

    Do you think a “massage” parlor near Logan Airport will hire him after the tour ends? He has a good reference.

  • jobbies@lemmy.zip
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    12 hours ago

    I’ve always thought he was arrogant, ugly, wonky-eyed talentless cunt. I’m glad he’s finally getting his comeuppance.

    • Tollana1234567@lemmy.today
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      2 hours ago

      Macklemore got dropped from ed shareens tour, after he made states ment in support of palestine. Kraft(stadium owner) pressured shareen to drop him, ed happily complied. SHareen remained somewhat silent, as not to upset Kraft, he is totally complicit though.

      THen Kraft alledgely, banned him from his tadiums than told other FB stadium owners to blacklist him.

    • TribblesBestFriend@startrek.website
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      12 hours ago

      Macklemor did his first part, he said some thing about the Palestinian Genocide so Sheeran dump him. Now other act are dumpings the Sheeran tour and people are laughing at him

      • Babalugats@feddit.uk
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        11 hours ago

        Sheeran didn’t dump him. Kraft did. Sheeran stood idly by and didn’t back him. it’s an awkward position to be in, but at the moment

        Genociders vs Anti-Genociders

        the genocider cunts are winning.

        People need to properly join in the boycotts of the genociders products, affiliations and services.

        They’re the ones currently doing the cancelling. It’s fucking ridiculous.

        We need to make it easier for cowards like Sheeran to stand up to them.

          • pieberry@lemmy.today
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            7 hours ago

            Please reconsider the brother in christ phrase.

            It’s problematic, because even if you don’t mean anything by it, it still normalizes and perpetuates christianity at a time when christian nationalism and Dominionism are on the rise and have taken over the US government. It also assumes the person you are talking to is also christian. Third, it reinforces patriarchy by assuming the person you are talking to is male.

            I have no idea how it caught on and become popular, but I’m hoping that with a little self-reflection, we can all move away from it.

              • green_goglin@thelemmy.clubOP
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                9 hours ago

                Ed and his management could have at the very least threatened a lawsuit or breach of contract rather than allow Kraft et al. to muzzle his “friend” and supporting act. Hell, all of the artists on the tour should sue all the owners and seek punitive damages.

                • village604@adultswim.fan
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                  8 hours ago

                  I’d be shocked if the venue contract didn’t have a morals clause specifically for situations like this. Same with the tour contract.

                  What people should be able to do and what they’re actually able to do are often different things. I’m not sure why everyone assumes that no one asked their legal department before making decisions.

    • ragebutt@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      11 hours ago

      Macklemore got dropped because he said some pro Palestine statements and the billionaire owner of the patriots and one of the stadiums they were arranged a boycott of many stadium owners, basically saying the tour would lose a ton of its venues if they kept him on

      On one hand, ed Sheeran is comfortably extreme upper class with millions of net worth and cancelling the tour wouldn’t have really hurt him (except maybe not being able to buy a third vacation villa). On the other hand, I somewhat feel for him because the tour certainly has a ton of people employed who are very much not in that echelon of wealth. Bus drivers, caterers, security, roadies, lighting and sound people, merch desk people, etc. cancelling a tour of this size would mean fucking over dozens if not hundreds of people well beyond the headliner and openers that are financially comfortable and can easily afford to take a public stance that may cost them employment

      He sucks and his music sucks but I get why this wasn’t an obvious “go fuck yourself” choice. The real villain is Robert Kraft, the literal oligarch that can arrange a blacklisting of a major concert tour at a moments notice over having his delicate feelings hurt by someone not denying a genocide. And that brings the bigger point up: I’m sure Kraft is pleased that his name barely comes up in this discussion and Sheeran catches the majority of the heat

      • Spice Hoarder@lemmy.zip
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        8 hours ago

        There’s nothing controversial about it. “Think about the bus drivers” what about the dead children, and their families? And I’m not singling you out. It’s just part of a broader frustration I have. I seriously don’t think people truly understand that once you’re gone, that’s it. This duality isn’t even close to being symmetric.

        Why does he need to tour stadiums? “Ed Sheeron touring small venues due to stance on Palestine” wouldn’t that get some heads rolling?

        This herd cowardice shit really upsets me.

        The vast majority of humans are very much “monkey see, monkey do.” Or in other words, their roll models inform their decision making. So celebrity choices absolutely have an impact on what the general public thinks.

        Anyway thats the end of my rant.

        • ragebutt@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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          8 hours ago

          I don’t inherently disagree with you and I certainly don’t think loss of job is equivalent to loss of life, of course. But I’m just saying it’s not as simple as “he’s gotta secure the bag so he rolled over”

          He is definitely complicit but he was forced into that position by a Zionist who knew he could put him in a very difficult position where either way Sheeran would catch all the flack. I’m not saying we should give his position a pass but I am saying the focus might make more sense on the oligarch that forced this situation over the soulless stooge that has decided to play the oligarchs game

          • prettybunnys@piefed.social
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            3 hours ago

            We’re all pointing out that he had the opportunity to use his platform to be on the right side of history and didn’t.

            He had the chance and the opportunity and the platform.

            One took it. Kudos to them.

            The other let someone else take the fall and then deflected.

      • curbstickle@anarchist.nexus
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        7 hours ago

        Sheeran has enough money to pay all those folks, refund the tickets, and skip any venues owned by shitheads.

        There is no reason to cover for this twit.

      • Tollana1234567@lemmy.today
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        2 hours ago

        if you want continuing supply of millions eacf gig, and future gigs, yes. kinda like how swift hasnt gone fully political to the right,

        • Viking_Hippie@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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          10 hours ago

          Took me 5 seconds to find out that he has a net “worth” of hundreds of millions of dollars.

          He could DEFINITELY afford the financial hit from not being a genocide enabling scumbag.

          • epicstove@lemmy.ca
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            9 hours ago

            Not to defend the guy, but what about all the other people involved? I can’t imagine he just travels alone he probably has a bunch of employed people to set things up and make sure everything runs smoothly.

            Or would those people be employed by the venues?

            • rainwall@piefed.social
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              4 hours ago

              What about the 80,000 dead Palestinians? The 20,000 dead Palenstian children that Israel is still slaughtering?

              Dude has an estimated $300 million to his name. If he gave a shit, he could pay all of their salaries out of pocket for the whole tour and not even feel it, while still standing agasint a genocide. That would be a huge, double whammy PR boost for him, cementing him forever as the best fucking guy in showbiz.

              I bet it wouldn’t even cost 10 million, leaving him $290 million to buy villas and superyaughts with until a few months passes, when he would have $300 million again from the interest alone.

            • curbstickle@anarchist.nexus
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              7 hours ago

              A large arena, including FOH, BOH, maintenance crews, security details, riggers, electricians, etc, etc…

              Is going to cost $150k or so.

              You are defending the guy. He could pay everyone and it wouldn’t have even the slightest impact to his net worth.

    • LavaPlanet@sh.itjust.works
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      10 hours ago

      Because it was one stadium, can’t be confirmed they all did it, and then he was also dropped from ALL upcoming shows. ED would have had that decision pass his desk. And at very least, if he doesn’t revoke it and fire the people who work for him that did (if he really didn’t know), then he is complicit.

      • frostysauce@lemmy.world
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        4 hours ago

        I believe he was barred from eight of the 10 upcoming shows. Those eight just all happen to be at NFL stadiums.

      • village604@adultswim.fan
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        10 hours ago

        That stadium owner got other stadium owners to join the boycott.

        Ed very likely has no say over tour decisions like that.

        • Viking_Hippie@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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          10 hours ago

          He has a say on whether he lets such bullshit go unchallenged, though.

          He is just as able to pull out as his supporting acts are, if not more.

        • LavaPlanet@sh.itjust.works
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          9 hours ago

          Yeah maybe but that’s not confirmed. But also, it was them putting pressure on Ed Sheerans managment directly to make the decision. Entirely my assumption that such a huge decision, to drop a major artist, would at least be mentioned to Ed.