Ed Sheeran protegees Katseye 'cut ties' with star as Macklemore storm grows with protests planned for first gig since crisis
Sheeran co-wrote Katseye’s single, Animal, which was released in July - but it has emerged that members Megan Skiendiel, Manon Bannerman, Yoonchae, Daniela Avanzini, Sophia LaForteza and Lara Raj were no longer in Sheeran’s followers list this week amid the backlash against the Shape of You hitmaker.
asserted
Skiendiel → cut → hitmaker
Raj began following Macklemore on Instagram, while both she and Skiendiel liked the post the rapper shared revealing he was removed from the remaining Loop tour dates he was scheduled to perform at after his Pro-Palestine speeches on stage.
asserted
he → begin → stage
Sheeran has said the decision to drop rapper Macklemore was made by his promoter, not by himself.
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decision → say → himself
But it has not stopped a growing backlash against the singer taking a stand against the decision.
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singer → stop → decision
All of the opening acts for Sheeran’s ongoing The Loop tour announced their withdrawal from remaining dates, including Finneas, Lukas Graham, and Aaron Rowe.
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All → announce → Finneas
Sheeran’s backing band Beoga also pulled out of the tour, saying in an Instagram post that they "fully supported" the message shared by Macklemore.
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they → pull → Macklemore
Some fans with tickets to the show have also said they are planning to protest inside the arena itself during the show.
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they → say → show
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 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
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
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.
uncertain
who → donate → same
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