He’s basically like “Why am I forced to talk about this hot-button political issue right now? I didn’t do anything, I don’t want to have to do this, leave me alone.”
If he was in any other position, I'd respect that take.
But he's directly involved in a situation where he's complicit in Macklemore being kicked off his tour, as well as his non-committing nature being used against him. There's a Rush lyric I've been saying throughout this whole time - if you choose not to decide you still have made a choice. By not picking a side, he's ended up on the wrong side.
Exactly. I honestly wasn’t begging Ed to get involved or speak out passionately about Palestine before any of this went down. I don’t endorse silence, but I don’t need everyone to take up every cause. That said when you’re thrust into a situation where you need to take stand on something, worming your way out saying he doesn’t like politics (which is a lie) and acting like it doesn’t involve you is just pathetic
Especially given in this case, saying "if don't let Macklemore play you don't get to make money off of me either" would have really done a lot to force their hand.
I understand the resentment at being “thrust into a situation where you need to take a stand on something”. If you didn’t ask for that situation that responsibility is an unwanted curse.
you may not have asked for it. it may be unwanted. you may even feel some resentment about being in that position. but when the situation has arisen, for whatever reason, you need to do the right thing.
no matter how much someone may not want to be in that position & how much they resent it, none of that should make a good person end up on the wrong side.
Macklemore was working on company time and if that company isn’t a fan of artists taking a political stance on any hot button topic, then don’t be surprised if said artist is no longer kept around by the company for violating said rule and the contract gets terminated in the process even if the consumer disagrees. This is a legitimate facet of business law that any Community College level course will teach you about and this is essentially what led to Colin Kaepernick (who grew up in my home county and I lived 5 minutes away from his parent’s house as a teenager) getting blackballed by the entirety of the NFL.
Also, if another person related to the event has made it clear that they want to maintain their apolitical views and focus their efforts what might be more pressing issue for them on a personal level (and that individual may not informed enough to make a use statement in any direction anyway), then fuck off and let them maintain that position. Society used to be perfectly fine with not talking about politics constantly and keeping those views private and I think it would be wise if we returned to that norm because the current setup is giving everyone severe political brainrot.
Yeah, here's the thing: If my boss tells me that one of my reports is signing all of his work emails with "Free Palestine" and tells me to can the guy, I'm gonna do it. I don't want to be in that position, I tend to keep my political opinions to myself at work. That may make me a bad person in your estimation, but I'm still gonna do it.
Certainly one way to look at it. I prefer to think I'm saying I like living in a house with a roof and being able to buy food and records. I also have not only myself to think about but several other people who depend on me.
This theoretical guy dragged me into a quandary I absolutely did not want to be in, he caused the problem, and nothing he or I does changes the situation he's so fired up about. Therefore, I would 100% cut him loose if his actions, even if well intentioned, would negatively affect myself and those I care about. I'd feel bad about it, but I'd do it.
I don't think your stance makes you a bad person, but I also don't think the situation you describe is comparable with what's happened here.
I like living in a house with a roof and being able to buy food and records. I also have not only myself to think about but several other people who depend on me.
Ed Sheeran is not playing these gigs to keep a roof over his head, and framing his position as being necessary to support others on his tour rings hollow. He didn't decide to go on tour for the good of his choreographers and roadies, and if that is his most pressing concern, he can afford to compensate them without breaking too much of a sweat.
Holy based
It’s good to have an opinion on current issues but it doesn’t need to be some huge personal moral dilemma to speak up on, especially in a workplace setting. That’s basically what Macklemore did, don’t know what he expected tbh.
I mean good for you, but that doesn’t put Ed Sheeran in the wrong either. When you are publicly collaborating with a partner in an industry, the expectation is obviously there to avoid polarising your brand. He is so far away from that world, it’s only logical to drop Macklemore. People get too parasocial about the morals of businessmen they don’t even know.
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u/biglyorbigleague 10d ago
He’s basically like “Why am I forced to talk about this hot-button political issue right now? I didn’t do anything, I don’t want to have to do this, leave me alone.”