Guitar Center's "Open For Ed Sheeran" contest going about as well as expected
The self-described not-complicit pop star Ed Sheeran has become the subject of much criticism after booting Macklemore from his tour.
Ed Sheeran's "Open for Legends" contest, a whimsical idea that placed a spotlight on contestants vying to open for the pop star on his December 11 show in Mexico City, has become a platform for controversy and backlash. The timing of the contest's launch — mere days after rapper Macklemore's removal from the tour for his pro-Palestine stance — has only served to amplify the clash of opinions.
With the contest page, advertised with a seemingly innocuous tagline, being unmoderated, it had quickly become a hotbed for trolling, with submissions ranging from mocking photos to insensitive references to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Participants were encouraged to showcase their musical talents, but instead, the contest emerged as a digital battleground, with trolls using the opportunity to express their discontent with Sheeran's decision to align himself with billionaire Robert Kraft, who had initially pulled Macklemore from the tour.
Despite the wave of trolling, there were positive contributions as well, with some users sharing links to aid organizations like Gaza Soup Kitchen and Doctors Without Borders. However, the chaos was eventually too much for Guitar Center, and the contest page was taken down. The incident serves as a stark reminder of how pop culture events can become entangled with political issues, and how easily such discussions can devolve into trolling and divisiveness.
Written by urgent.news from The A.V. Club's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
