Ed Sheeran enlists 'small army' for latest gig after Macklemore controversy
asserted
Sheeran → enlist → controversy
Philadelphia police confirmed there will be a “sizeable” police presence at the stadium to ensure his safety, telling TMZ: “Our officers are talking to his team to make sure all appropriate measures are taken.”
Police will monitor the concert and make the necessary adjustments based on public safety needs, a spokesperson told the outlet.
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spokesperson → confirm → outlet
The plan is to have a small “army” of law enforcement inside and out of the stadium, while attendees will have to go through metal detectors and some will be patted down.
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some → have → detectors
There have been no threats made against Sheeran as of yet, but things could change before Saturday night, police said.
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police → make → night
The controversy began when Macklemore gave a two-minute speech at his New Jersey show earlier this month, saying he wanted the people of Gaza and “the occupied West Bank” to know “we have not forgotten about them”.
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we → begin → them
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.
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that → stand → heart
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“I said, ‘Free Palestine!’
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I → read → 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
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
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 → claim → agenda
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 billionaire Gillette Stadium owner Robert 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
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.
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celebrities → meet → post
The following day, Sheeran issued a statement of his own, where he confirmed that Kraft had issued an ultimatum.
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Kraft → issue → ultimatum
“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
It didn’t take long for Sheeran’s other acts to drop out of the tour, as they expressed their solidarity with Macklemore, including Finneas, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe and Beoga.
Macklemore has since donated his one million-dollar (£747,328) tour net earnings to charities supporting Palestinian people, and challenged Kraft, who reportedly called for his removal from the tour, to do the same.
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who → take → same
“With everything that has happened over the last 48 hours, I want to bring the conversation back to where it belongs: to the Palestinian people who are still being killed, still living under military occupation, and still fighting for their freedom,” Macklemore wrote on Instagram.
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Macklemore → happen → Instagram
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