Ed Sheeran 'furious and upset' about Macklemore fallout and feels 'thrown under the bus'
asserted
Sheeran → feel → bus
His four other opening acts have since quit in solidarity with Macklemore, including Finneas, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe and Beoga.
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acts → quit → Finneas
Now, sources have claimed he is “absolutely furious” at being placed under scrutiny and feels “thrown under the bus” by his friends.
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he → claim → friends
The source added: “Even though Ed is a very mild-mannered guy he will speak his mind when he has to.
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he → add → mind
He’ll be absolutely furious at being put in this situation.
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He → put → situation
“He’s been thrown under a bus by several people he considers friends.”
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he → throw → people
The outlet did not clarify which friends the source was referring to.
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source → clarify → friends
Sheeran is long-time friends with the Irish folk group Beoga, who helped create his hit song, Galway Girl, and had been performing with him at every concert.
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who → help → concert
He has also known Macklemore for 13 years.
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He → know → years
The Standard has contacted Sheeran’s representative for comment.
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Standard → contact → comment
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
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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 → read → 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
On Monday, Macklemore announced he would no longer be playing the remaining dates of Sheeran’s Loop tour.
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he → announce → tour
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
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
Sheeran has also stepped up police presence at his next gig, which is in Philadelphia on Saturday amid planned pro-Palestine protests.
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which → step → protests
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 → donate → same
The Aporia
