EDITORIAL: The day the music died and activism took over

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In the blink of an eye, British singer Ed Sheeran’s U.S. tour fell apart in a dispute over statements by Macklemore, one of the show’s warm-up acts.

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At a show Sept. 4 at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium, Macklemore launched into a “Free Palestine” diatribe.

Introducing his pro-Palestine song, Hind’s Hall, Macklemore said, in part: “The truth is, a big part of the reason why I wanted to do this tour in the first place so I can stand up in stadiums like this and say two words that are very near and dear to my heart: Free Palestine.”

Macklemore has donated his $1 million tour fee to charities in Gaza.

Ten days later, the Seattle-born rapper says he received a call from Sheeran, dropping him from the tour. Sheeran said Robert Kraft, the owner of Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts, had refused to allow Macklemore to appear at the venue. Many of the show’s other acts have quit.

That’s the thing about freedom of speech. In the U.S. and Canada, you are free to express whatever view you like. You must also be prepared for the consequences. If a stadium owner doesn’t agree with your view, it’s absolutely his right not to allow you to espouse it at his venue. Freedom of speech is not a right Hamas holds dear. Nor are they fans of gay or women’s rights. But let’s not let facts inform an argument.

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Sheeran isn’t a political figure and hasn’t publicly expressed his views on Gaza. Macklemore insinuating his opinions into Sheeran’s concert was a self-indulgent attempt to hijack it. Concert-goers pay to be entertained. They don’t expect a geopolitical lecture.

On Instagram, Kraft said he would welcome the opportunity to sit down with Macklemore.

“Too many lives have been lost and there has been too much suffering, but only sharing selective information and ignoring the actions of Hamas is not honest and only advances more divisiveness and hate,” he said.

Activist Greta Thunberg, never one to let a left-wing bandwagon pass without jumping on it, also expressed her support for Macklemore.

Meanwhile, an Irish radio station has pulled Sheeran’s playlist. Why? Because he hasn’t spoken out publicly on the controversy. That’s where we are now. Artists are cancelled for not having an opinion. Or, for not having the correct ill-informed views.

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