Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez took aim at New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft after Macklemore was forced off Ed Sheeran’s tour following onstage comments the rapper made in support of Palestinians amid Israel’s war in Gaza. In another clip posted by TMZ, when asked if Sheeran held responsibility, the congresswoman said that while everyone plays a role, the focus should be on Kraft and “the actual people who are who are kind of twisting things here.” She added, “We need to be very clear about how dangerous a precedent this.” The controversy over Macklemore and his involvement as an opening act on Sheeran’s Loop Tour began after the Seattle artist joined the run in early September for two shows at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. At the first gig, Macklemore shouted “Free Palestine”; stood in solidarity with people in Gaza and the occupied West Bank; showed images on screens of the devastation caused by the war in Gaza; and performed his protest song, “Hind’s Hall,” about pro-Palestine demonstrators at Columbia University.
Pro-Israel groups denounced Macklemore, with the Israeli American Council launching a petition demanding Sheeran nix him from the rest of the tour. Trending Stories ‘With Gaza, I Couldn’t Not Speak Out’: Ms. Rachel on Controversy, Fame, and the Future Macklemore Dropped From Ed Sheeran Tour After Onstage ‘Free Palestine’ Statements All of Ed Sheeran's Openers Abandon Tour After Macklemore Debacle Pink Responds to Fallout After Sharing Post Criticizing Macklemore’s Speech on Palestine On Monday, Macklemore claimed that he was dropped after Sheeran was pressured by Kraft ahead of the singer’s upcoming show at Massachusetts’s Gillette Stadium, which is owned by the Kraft Group.
Following the announcement of Macklemore’s removal from Sheeran’s tour, all artists supporting Sheeran withdrew from the trek including Finneas, Lukas Graham, and Aaron Rowe. We should be able to speak about war, about civilians being killed, about children who deserve to grow up. Whatever flag flies over them,” Graham wrote in a statement shared to Instagram.
Nobody’s bank balance should decide who gets to speak or which suffering we’re allowed to acknowledge.”
Extract — continue reading at the source.
