As Macklemore finished his set as the opening act in Ed Sheeran’s U.S. stadium tour, just before he walked off, he ended with a final statement and message: “Free Palestine.”
Robert Kraft, the owner of Gillette Stadium, subsequently demanded Macklemore be removed from Sheeran’s tour, and Sheeran relented. He allowed Macklemore to be removed from his concerts for speaking out against the genocide in Gaza, and he made a conscious choice.
Sheeran later released a statement about the situation, claiming he had no control of the decision, citing the need to “bring people together.” Perhaps most revealingly, however, Sheeran said he “was not complicit” in a statement.
To state the obvious, tens of thousands of children are dead, Gazans are being starved, tortured, displaced, removed, and colonized.
Multiple genocide scholars, international organizations — including a U.N Independent International Commission of Inquiry, and the International Association of Genocide Scholars — have all came to the same conclusion. Whatever term, whatever crime — Israel’s actions in Gaza has been nearly universally labelled as a genocide by all relevant parties.
And yet, instead of standing with his fellow artists daring to speak the truth that most of his fanbase already believes, he folded. In other words, Ed Sheeran is complicit.
Performative neutrality is unacceptable, and agnostic apoliticality is as much of a position as those who deny genocide. Silence, as we should all understand, is complicity.
It’s only worsened with his justification: to foster a more positive environment and that he, one of the most popular music acts in the world, had no control in the decision to drop Macklemore from the tour.
Of course, Sheeran conveniently fails to mention his prior personal relationship with Robert Kraft, having once preformed a private concert for Kraft’s wedding. Granted, a personal relationship does not necessarily mean Sheeran could have changed Kraft’s decision, but it’s equally unreasonable to suggest he had no choice or influence in the matter.
Macklemore had a choice, and he stood up against genocide. Sheeran’s decision was never about fostering positivity, and that’s painfully obvious. It was only ever about money.
Sheeran chose the side of the billionaires and the interests of the shareholder — to avoid controversy to maximize profits, to sacrifice his morals and ethical compass for greed.
But it goes beyond that.
Entertainment, sports, music is — at its fundamental core — about expressing personality and showing your passion. Art is honest authenticity, not a corporatized, P.R. trained response. Art cannot exist without profound authenticity. That is precisely why the idea that art, or artists, can be ‘apolitical’ is laughable.
Art requires a deep emotional connection with one’s work, to express yourself in a profoundly unique, personalized, and politicized sense.
There’s a unique power that true, genuine art can have. It’s real power; it’s the power to change minds, alter perspectives, and create profoundly experiences. Artists should be expected to adhere to this. Where Macklemore succeeds, Sheeran fails.
Taking a side, holding a perspective, and having principles is art in its purest form. The corporatized version of art, the type that Sheeran defends, is a depressing indication of where the industry is heading.
— Journal Editorial Board
Tags
Ed Sheeran, Israel-Gaza War, Palestine
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