#SHOWBIZ: Doom Loop? Ed Sheeran struggles against Gaza tide
PARIS: Ed Sheeran faces boycott calls and desertions, leaving the British singer with a career crisis that underlines how even the world’s biggest stars are being sucked into the politics of the war in Gaza.
Ed Sheeran, the British pop star, finds himself in a career crisis amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Following a week of mounting pressure and criticism, Sheeran faces boycott calls and desertions from his Loop Tour as he struggles to balance his public image and artistic principles. The issues began when his friend and fellow rapper, Macklemore, voiced support for Palestinian rights during a performance at the New Jersey MetLife Stadium.
However, Macklemore was later removed from subsequent shows due to pressure from US stadium owners, including billionaire Robert Kraft. This led to a backlash against Sheeran, with critics accusing him of failing to defend a friend, lacking courage to speak about Gaza, and prioritizing profits over principles. Singer Finneas, brother of Billie Eilish, called for Sheeran to cancel the tour, while veteran British singer-songwriter Billy Bragg advised him to swallow his pride and make the cancellation.
Palestinian group PACBI urged Sheeran to reinstate Macklemore, threatening a cultural boycott of the tour until then. Despite his image as a down-to-earth, family-friendly artist, Sheeran has previously supported political causes, such as backing anti-poverty initiatives and expressing support for then-leftist Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn.
Music experts believe that the Gaza war has gained unprecedented traction in the entertainment industry, with figures from various award ceremonies and film festivals speaking out against the conflict.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
