• wieson@feddit.org
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    7 days ago

    Stupid of Sheeran and his team to assume that the IRISH backing band wouldn’t care.

    • 🇵🇸antifa_ceo@lemmy.ml
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      7 days ago

      Ed Sheeran is worth $400 million and is one of the top 3 touring musicians bar none. He had every piece of power to say “fuck you” to Robert Kraft and in the moment where it mattered he was spineless.

    • IEatDaFeesh@lemmy.world
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      7 days ago

      Ed Sheeran has too much power and wealth to be gentle with. He’s chosen the Zionist side even when his livelihood wouldn’t be in jeopardy.

    • robin@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      6 days ago

      Ed is the one who spent tens of millions pre-paying semi trucks, Staff, Equipment, consultants on stage design, Travel and lodging and logistics. He apparently fronts the money for his own tours. People are hired, contracts are signed, things are scheduled and paid for. I don’t envy Ed. He’s not in the financial or legal position to simply cancel like the others are.

      Robert Kraft is the bad guy here. Changing the rules on what musicians can play and can’t play. Art versus censorship is a tale as old as time. The industry needs to fight back, the fans need to stand up, but I don’t think we should take it all out on Ed here. I got the vibe he wants to be on the right side, but he’s too deep right now and counting on the tour dates to cover his expenses.

      Where he messed up big-time was not hiring a crisis manager before he put out that defensive statement. He said some good things, but in the wrong tone, and I think people are reacting to the tone more than anything else.

    • 3abas@lemmy.world
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      7 days ago

      By boycotting the concerts at their venues, you are directing anger at them, and hurting them financially.

      His backing band and all opening acts pulling out means the tour should be cancelled, and that’s hitting Kraft and other venue owners right where it hurts.

    • zalgotext@sh.itjust.works
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      7 days ago

      Ed showed us all that he considers himself more in line with those stadium owners then the rest of us though, so fuck him

        • zalgotext@sh.itjust.works
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          7 days ago

          We’re already mad at Kraft. We’re mad at the billionaire class in general. Kraft’s behavior is not novel. Ed’s is. That’s why his actions are getting more attention. We didn’t know Ed would side with the enemy till now.

      • bluemite@lemmy.world
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        7 days ago

        Or possibly he’s on the side of people who spent a lot of money to see him in concert

        • Killer57@lemmy.ca
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          7 days ago

          Cancel and refund the tickets, can you imagine the media coverage he’d be getting instead if he had just done that to the affected shows, and then found smaller venues that welcome them?

          • robin@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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            6 days ago

            Look, I’m all for being on the right side, but Ed is the one who spent tens of millions on prepaid semi trucks, stage gear, countless personnel to move and run a huge production to every venue on the tour, experts to design the show. He can’t just “cancel” those things. Money is spent. People are hired. Contracts were signed.

            Robert Kraft is a bad guy here; cut Ed a LITTLE slack for not being in a legal/financial position to cancel like the others are.

            When venues start controlling what artists can perform, the industry is fucked. It’s like demonetizing “controversial” YouTube videos, but IRL in a music venue.

            If I was on my tour and this happened, I wouldn’t know what the hell to do. What he needs to do is hire a crisis manager.

        • robin@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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          6 days ago

          Ed is the one who spent tens of millions pre-paying semi trucks, Staff, Equipment, consultants on stage design, Travel and lodging and logistics. He apparently fronts the money for his own tours. People are hired, contracts are signed, things are scheduled and paid for. I don’t envy Ed. He’s not in the financial or legal position to simply cancel like the others are.

          Robert Kraft is the bad guy here. Changing the rules on what musicians can play and can’t play. Art versus censorship is a tale as old as time. The industry needs to fight back, the fans need to stand up, but I don’t think we should take it all out on Ed here. I got the vibe he wants to be on the right side, but he’s too deep right now and counting on the tour dates to cover his expenses.

  • betanumerus@lemmy.ca
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    6 days ago

    The other Sheeran-level star signers are pretty quiet these days. Ed is taking a hit for them.

  • melsaskca@lemmy.ca
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    7 days ago

    Another racist, degenerate, billionaire backfire. Palestine is being talked about everywhere, big time! Thanks Mister Kraft! Sorry Ed, your career is dead. The New England Pedophiles indeed!

    • Atomic@sh.itjust.works
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      6 days ago

      He’s not taking a “both sides are bad” take. He’s taking a “I don’t want to deal with politics, I just want to perform”.

      • HCSOThrowaway@lemmy.world
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        6 days ago

        But then why ban Macklemore unless he suspected Macklemore would’ve gone on a political rant?

        Regardless, not using your platform to advocate for people without a platform is a form of complicity.

        • Atomic@sh.itjust.works
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          5 days ago

          But then why ban Macklemore unless he suspected Macklemore would’ve gone on a political rant?

          He wasn’t banned ahead of going on a “political rant”, he was removed after. So I don’t know what you’re on about there.

          Regardless, not using your platform to advocate for people without a platform is a form of complicity.

          That is highly debatable. I heard no one go on a “political rant” about the various internal conflicts in Africa. Are they complicit in those because of that? If an artist just wants to do their art. I say fair enough. I strongly disagree that it’s a form of complicity

          • HCSOThrowaway@lemmy.world
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            5 days ago

            He wasn’t banned ahead of going on a “political rant”, he was removed after. So I don’t know what you’re on about there.

            The rumor mill that gave me most of what I know about this incident didn’t tell me that piece, so that’s why I’m “on about” not knowing what you know.

            That is highly debatable. I heard no one go on a “political rant” about the various internal conflicts in Africa. Are they complicit in those because of that? If an artist just wants to do their art. I say fair enough. I strongly disagree that it’s a form of complicity

            A fair point, atrocities come and go from the public eye. A thousand Palestinian deaths is no more tragic than a thousand African deaths. It’d be nice if one could speak on every one of them freely, but evidently speaking on Palestine is not allowed by these tour producers/managers/etc. It would be interesting to see what would have happened had Macklemore spoke about Africa, but we can’t wind back the clock so this kinda boils down to a Whataboutism/Red Herring. Suffice it to say, this particular artist wasn’t allowed to speak their mind because someone was worried about what the shareholders, Zionists, or “I prefer to stay ignorant of politics” people might say. I think that’s lame. You do not.

            • Atomic@sh.itjust.works
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              5 days ago

              The rumor mill that gave me most of what I know about this incident didn’t tell me that piece, so that’s why I’m “on about” not knowing what you know.

              And here I assumed you’d read the same article we’re both commenting under where they said as much. My mistake.

              It would be interesting to see what would have happened had Macklemore spoke about Africa

              No it wouldn’t. We both know nothing would happen.

              I think that’s lame. You do not.

              Don’t put words in my mouth. It’s not going to get you anywhere.

              As far as Macklemore is concerned, this is the best outcome possible. He gets tons of free publicity, and the topic he spoke about gets even more coverage as a result of what happened. And everytime Ed performs without his openers, the papers will talk about why that is.

              • HCSOThrowaway@lemmy.world
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                4 days ago

                And here I assumed you’d read the same article we’re both commenting under where they said as much. My mistake.

                Nope. Not everyone has infinite time like you do. Sorry to report I’m a mere mortal.

                No it wouldn’t. We both know nothing would happen.

                Yeah, again, I’m only a mortal so I lack the prescience that you possess. A thousand apologies for my limitations.

                Don’t put words in my mouth. It’s not going to get you anywhere.

                Then, pray tell, why are you saying what you’re saying in this thread? I made a reasonable conclusion about your intent and you didn’t even deny it (yet), nor clarify what your actual intent is. You just sass me for having wounded your ego.

                • Atomic@sh.itjust.works
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                  4 days ago

                  While i do not doubt that you’d need infinite time to read a single article. I managed just fine in 2 minutes.

                  It’s pretty clear what I’ve said for those who can read. And most of it seems to be because people like you type shit without even bothering to read what it is you’re commenting on. Just going around spreading misinformation. But just for you. I’ll use small words.

                  He just wants to sing and that’s it. He did not want to get involved at all in this ‘fight’. I think it’s cowardly. Ed also has (or had) hundreds of people working for the tour. That may very well rely on the tour to bring home money. He has enough money to say fuck it and go home. Same can’t be said for everyone else.

                  And don’t worry, there’s no ego to wound here.

                  Trying to waste others time by making them deny or defend against baseless claims is the type of shit Trump does. And the only measured response is to not even dignify it.

  • lennybird@lemmy.world
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    6 days ago

    Ed Sheeran is weak, but Robert Kraft is the evil psychopathic billionaire who started all this.

    A profound fuck to Robert Kraft in particular.

    At least Sheeran isn’t in the Epstein Files.

    • BigDiction@lemmy.world
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      6 days ago

      Interesting how Ed Sheeran is the one getting dragged in the media and all over Lemmy while the literal billionaire who started this shit is probably getting rub and tugged in Florida right now.

      As if I needed another reason to hate the Patriots.

      • Atomic@sh.itjust.works
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        6 days ago

        If it was a clear and cut case of contract breach for the tour, that would be one thing. But it doesn’t sound like that’s what it was about. So Ed is getting dragged for not standing up for his fellow artist.

        From what I’ve gathered, Ed pretty much just threw his hands up and said, “I don’t want to get involved, you guys figure it out.” Fair enough if that’s the case. That’s his choice. But we see the result of what people think about those who take the cowards way out.

        He doesn’t want to deal with politics. He just wants to perform. And I get that. But it’s still cowardly to not stand up for your fellow artist. And that’s why everyone else is dropping out.

        • BigDiction@lemmy.world
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          6 days ago

          When you’re the leading the artist of a tour there’s a whole bunch of complicated shit. You might be fronting some out of pocket, the promoters become your business partners, and there are a lot of mouths to feed, etc

          You could just appease Kraft and find a different opener for the shows at Gillette Stadium but instead they cancelled Mack for the entirety of the North American tour. Why?

          Kraft won’t admit it but it sure does seem like he called in favors to all the other owners of venues (almost all NFL stadiums) to cancel him out. I think that kind of collusion is a much bigger story.

          • athatet@lemmy.zip
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            6 days ago

            Oh no. Poor ed spent some money? Well you have to do it if money was spent. Thems tha rules.

            • BigDiction@lemmy.world
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              6 days ago

              Ha that’s one deal I’m not even sure is true. The point of my comment is that focusing on Sheeran instead of Kraft is missing the forest for the trees.

              • athatet@lemmy.zip
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                6 days ago

                Except we already know Kraft is a billo child fucker. We THOUGHT ed was an okay guy. Turns out he is a just a coward piece of shit.

                • BigDiction@lemmy.world
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                  6 days ago

                  I really dislike how people throw around ‘piece of shit’ at will when it’s dehumanizing term really intended for someone with no path for redemption.

  • Manjushri@piefed.social
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    7 days ago

    “I have spent this week trying to build bridges, to find a solution and unfortunately, was unable to do so.

    I tried so hard to find a middle ground between the genocide supporters and everyone else and I just can’t seem to do it. People who hate genocide are just so rigid and uncompromising!

  • BucketBong@p.hobo.social
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    7 days ago

    What a lot of these people don’t understand is, there is no sitting on the fence anymore, the fence is gone, it’s just a line in the sand now and you’re either on the right side or the wrong side.

  • CombatWombat@feddit.online
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    7 days ago

    I doubt many folks are viewing this through a sports lens, but as a Sounders fan I am very pleased to see the part owner of the Seattle Sounders (Macklemore) stand up for what’s right against the evil New England Revolution owner (Kraft).

    • BeUnique@lemmy.zip
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      7 days ago

      I too am a huge fan of sounding but what’s that have to do with sports or Macklemore?

    • Raiderkev@lemmy.world
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      7 days ago

      I have to say, pretty sure Sounders is the worst name in pro sports. I would assume a sounder is one that partakes in sounding.

    • pelespirit@sh.itjust.works
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      7 days ago

      The Seahawks beat the Robert Kraft owned New England Patriots last year in the Superbowl. We beat them last week with our back-up quarterback. Small wins in life, yeah?

        • pelespirit@sh.itjust.works
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          7 days ago

          You must not have heard that he’s in the epstein files?

          In 2019, Kraft was among 25 people facing first-degree misdemeanor charges for soliciting prostitution at a day spa.[145] His attorney electronically entered a not-guilty plea, and later submitted a court filing where Kraft waived arraignment, pled not guilty to all charges and requested a jury trial.[151] A memo filed by Kraft’s attorneys revealed that hidden cameras had been installed when investigators entered the facility under the guise of suspected human trafficking.[156] A Palm Beach County judge ruled that prosecutors could not use the videos in their case, citing privacy concerns.[157] A Florida appeals court also ruled that Kraft’s constitutional rights were violated, and all the charges were dropped.[162] U.S. District Judge Rodolfo Ruiz ordered the videos to be destroyed.[163]

          In 2026, it was revealed that Kraft had kept a relationship with child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein and that Epstein had recommended Kraft use his lawyer to defeat the charges.[164]

          https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Kraft

          • AngryishHumanoid@lemmy.world
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            7 days ago

            Given the number of legit famous people Epstein surrounded himself with because he was, at that point, rich himself: no being mentioned in the files isn’t a defacto “that person is complicit”. I don’t think Stephen Hawking, Bruce Willis, or Cate Blanchett were diddling kids either despite being in the files. DeCaprio… Well that one wouldn’t surprise me.

              • AngryishHumanoid@lemmy.world
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                7 days ago

                Look if there was evidence of wrongdoing I’d want him to spend just as much time in prison as anyone else, but can we agree what you describe is a pretty far cry from evidence he was fucking kids? Come on now.

                • David_Eight@lemmy.world
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                  7 days ago

                  The videotaping at the business lasted for five days, and wound up recording two women and two men receiving legitimate massages, not just the men paying for sexual services."

                  Four people over five days received an actual massage lol. They destroyed the evidence because of a technically. Did you even read the article?

  • Z745812939054@lemmy.zip
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    7 days ago

    LOL i don’t know anything about sheeran but i wouldn’t be surprised if he knows nothing and has no opinion on palestine, only what his managers tell him.

    his only course of action now is to fess up and apologize. he was afraid of being blacklisted by venues, now he should be afraid of being ditched by millions of sane people

    • AngryishHumanoid@lemmy.world
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      7 days ago

      The thing is he’s always been considered a pretty decent person who is much more down to earth than you’d expect from his level of celebrity, and I get why he’s tried to avoid taking a stance on this, but the time for sitting on a fence is well over.

      • robin@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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        6 days ago

        I am not trying To be an apologist or whatever but the fact matter is Ed spent millions of dollars On personnel, trucks, lodging, Logistics stage design stage equipment expecting to make it back because he fronts the cost for his own tour. Contracts are signed. People are hired equipment is rented trucks are booked. Much of it is prepaid. Ed is the one holding the and the contract not really in a position to just cancel legally or financially.

        He put out a really poor statement, yeah, but he’s not in the same position the others are. Cut him a little slack. The venue owner Robert Kraft is the problem here.

        Ed needs a crisis manager

      • Jhex@lemmy.world
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        7 days ago

        well there was a time when many of us thought Elon as smart… Sheeran’s “pretty decent” persona was shattered by the ultra low hanging fruit of simply saying “war is bad” (which would have been enough to get him out of this hole)

  • AngryishHumanoid@lemmy.world
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    7 days ago

    GOOD. I know this bullshit isn’t Sheeran’s fault personally, and I honestly don’t blame him for trying to stay neutral, much as I disagree with it, but the musicians need to put pressure on the asshole rich people trying to force their opinion$ and their propping up Israel onto us.

      • AngryishHumanoid@lemmy.world
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        7 days ago

        Are we having the same conversation? The promotors and stadium owners are the ones who got Macklemore kicked, and i flat out said I disagreed with Sheeran not taking a stance. I’m perfectly capable of speaking for myself, you don’t need to make up things for me to say.

    • sudo@lemmy.today
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      7 days ago

      You’re saying being impartial to the genocide of Palestinians in Gaza, where nearly half of them are children, is not his fault?

      You don’t blame him for falling to condemn the murder, starvation, rape, and torture of an entire People?

      In what possible way could he be absolved of his responsibility? If anything, he’s even more responsible to speak out against it given the privilege he has been granted with his platform.