Ed Sheeran Learns the Hard Way That You Can’t “Both Sides” a Genocide

You know, I was on the fence about whether or not I would make a follow-up video to my video yesterday about McLemore and Ed Sheeran, but ultimately I decided to uh pull the trigger, as you now know, because the thing that convinced me was this idea that I I really had to jump on the bandwagon and add to the chorus of hate that Ed Sheeran was already getting so as to maximize the impact and really the chances that he'll see at least somebody [ __ ] on him and know how pissed off we all really are, which is uh something he deserves. Like, he actually deserves to have his feelings hurt. And I don't want to just like hope that his feelings get hurt. I want confirmation that his feelings hurt, that he at least cried like once or twice from seeing all the mean comments about him. And like at this point, I hope his own mom [ __ ] bullies him and calls him a [ __ ] because that's what he deserves because this man is in the process as we speak of trying to both sides a literal genocide. And not just any genocide, the most well doumented genocide in human history. And he's trying to take a both sides approach. And to me, I feel like that is something that is truly beyond the pale for any human being. what he managed to do in trying to both sides of the situation led to him pissing off everybody. Like you tried to offend nobody and you ended up offending everybody. And I almost hate him more than Pink because at least when it comes to Pink, she's just unambiguously a piece of [ __ ] Like she is taking this genocide and she's saying, you know what, I am the main character of this genocide. I don't know what this is. Maybe that's what she does. She's like, I'm the main character. Okay. The way that McLemore talked about this genocide is very offensive to me. And we all know that during a genocide where an entire group of people including 20,000 ch children have been exterminated, we really need to center the feelings of rich white people like me. So, you know, you just kind of can dismiss people like Pink because she's showed us all who she is. She is a gigantic piece of [ __ ] who should never be taken seriously ever again. But when it comes to Ed Sheeran, he's trying to give himself plausible deniability when he has none. And I'm not really sure if he had any help from a PR team in crafting this response on Instagram, but godamn, he should have had some help from them because this is by far one of the worst responses to a controversy I have ever seen. And I'm pleased to report that it's not just that he's getting backlash from his Instagram post. He's actually seeing some acts pull out from his shows to stand in solidarity with McLemore and more importantly the Palestinian people because that's something that he decided to not do and that makes the situation all the more embarrassing to him. So before we get to the axe who are distancing themselves from Ed Sharon, I want to go to his [ __ ] ass Instagram post where he disabled comments by the way. But uh Ed Sheeran, you can't disable comments on this video. But let's get to his response because I don't think I've ever seen a more pathetic response to backlash in my entire [ __ ] life. So he writes, "I'm appalled by the conflict between Israel and Palestine. The suffering and pain caused on both sides. He's actually doing the [ __ ] thing. He's doing the both sides thing over a genocide uh is a human tragedy. There are too many wars across the world causing immeasurable pain, none of which should be tolerated. Now, let me just point out the obvious that these are not equal parties here. One has a military, one does not have a military. This is a genocide, not a conflict. And for you to come out and say all wars are bad. I mean, how how bold, how brave. Like, what do you do you want me to give you a cookie for that stance? That's not a bold stance. Saying war is bad is kind of like the default position. So you saying, well, my response to this ongoing genocide as determined by international human rights groups, including Israeli human rights groups as well as genocide scholars, is to say, well, war bad in general, right? But this is different than a war. One side is trying to wipe the other side off the map. So for you to even characterize it as a war is genocide appia and genocide denial. So [ __ ] you for that. But there's more here. After McLemore's performance at my New Jersey shows, venues on my upcoming tour dates communicated that they would pull all the shows if he was still supporting. I was informed that this stance was based on how McLemore conveyed part of his message during his performance rather than on everything that was said. Okay. Well, what specifically did they take issue with? Was it when he said free Palestine, a group that's been occupied for decades? Was it when he said that we're not all free until everybody's free? Was it when he advocated for freedom and equality? I guess I just don't understand why they would take issue with it. And it's almost like they don't really care about his supposedly bigoted comments because these same venues who are censoring McLemore and deplatforming McLemore are allowing Kanye West to perform who has a song called Hy Hitler. So, you would think that if they really were concerned about bigotry and not the geopolitical issue that they would be much more consistent, but the fact that they're not kind of speaks to how this is [ __ ] They're weaponizing anti-semitism in order to justify a genocide that they support. Robert Craft, the individual who got McLemore removed from the tour, this man was given an award by Netanyahu for supporting Israel. He is a donor to Apac and pro-Israel organizations that support genocide. And on top of that, this is unrelated. He's in the Epstein files, but this piece of [ __ ] got his way because he has money and power and he supports the idea that Israel should be allowed to eliminate Palestinians from existence with impunity. And that's really what this is about. He couldn't care less about anti-semitism. If anything, he thinks that it's good because he thinks that they're able to use that as an excuse to wipe out Palestinians when no, anti-semitism is a real issue, as McLemore talked about. And you using anti-semitism as a justification for a genocide is actually despicable because you're trying to tie innocent Jewish people to the actions of a government which they have no control over. And that to me is truly morally reprehensible. Nonetheless, uh Ed Sheran goes on to explain how he tried to build a bridge between the uh pro- genocide and anti- genocide people. He said, "I spoke with the venues at length all week to try and build a bridge. One of those people was Robert Craft. I was also involved in direct talks with promoters along with activists on both sides. He loves both sides to try and find a mutual resolution for all. But the venues and promoters decision was final. He had no choice. His hands were tied. He had to just accept that McLemore was going to be removed from his tour because he's just a he's just a little boy and you know he has no power. The problem is that he actually has a lot of leverage in this situation because the venues need him more than he needs them. He can pull rank. He can swing his stick around. He's a hundred millionaire. He could just cancel the tour and say [ __ ] you to them. Stand in solidarity with McLemore and more importantly Palestinians. But he's choosing to go on because to him, money is more important than actually taking a principled stand against a literal genocide. That's embarrassing. Mclemore coming off tour was the promoter's decision. It was not mine. McLemore's contract for the tour was with the promoter, not me. He continues, I would never let down the fans who had made plans, nor would I abandon the touring crew and the other support acts and musicians who rely on me for work and to make a living. So, he's basically saying here, at least according to my interpretation, um, look, I had no control, but even if I could control the situation, I'm not going to cancel the tour, okay? Because I'd be letting down my fans because them hearing my pop slop is more important than me taking a stand and educating the world about a genocide. Like, I'm not gonna use my platform for good, okay? I've got fans that want to be entertained. And the problem with that is I think he really underestimated his fans because the official Loop Tour Twitter account they're suspending. They're also on Instagram. They're saying they're basically disappointed in this. So I think that he really didn't take into account just how politically active his fans already were because life is politics. You're touring in a fascist country right now. Some of your fans could have been picked up by the ice castabo on the way to your show. To not take a stand on politics is in fact a political choice in and of itself. Being a political in a fascist country is a political decision regardless if you like it or not. But there's a little bit more here that I want to get to before we get to the uh fallout. I have always used my platform and music to bring people from all backgrounds and cultures together and this won't ever change. Yeah, he's going to bring together fascists, anti-fascists, genociders, and genocides. Wow, that's that's a big tent, you Um, tolerating intolerance is one hell of a way to um, promote yourself. Like, yeah, we're we're going to hear from all sides, the people doing a genocide and the people who are getting genocided by the people doing a genocide. But, uh, you know, if you think that makes you a good person, whatever, buddy. Those who have been to one of my shows will know that they are about unity, joy, escapism, love, and a place for everyone to feel welcome. And this might be the worst paragraph in the entire post. I am not complicit. I have my personal views on this devastating conflict. Just because I choose not to speak publicly, it doesn't mean I don't have them. And it doesn't mean I don't care. Nor does it mean I don't support causes in my own personal way. Well, how courageous of you to feel strongly about political issues allegedly, but not speak up about them. I mean, this guy is worth hundreds of millions of dollars, and he would be fine for the rest of his life. He'd live in immense privilege if he just stopped doing shows altogether right now. But he doesn't want to do that. He wants to have it all. He wants to make endless amounts of money, but also play both sides, both sides of genocide and just expect people to not see through that. But we do see through it. Your own fans see through it, Ed Sheeran. And you look like a piece of [ __ ] right now. Uh, finally, there's a reason I do not use my professional platform for politics. My audience includes young people, often children of all backgrounds. Those who come to my shows do not expect a political forum. I respect McLemore's strength of purpose to stand up and shout for what he believes. However, there is room for multiple approaches to the same end. Peace. Hm. Which one is going to be more effective, saying nothing or saying something? I wonder. I choose to use my fame and platform to be a place of safety and sanctuary to maintain diplomacy and keep conversations open, not closed. If we only focus on shouting the loudest, nothing will ever change. Well, if we don't say anything at all, nothing's going to change either. There are different approaches to being an advocate for change. So full of [ __ ] I have spent this week trying to build bridges to find a solution and unfortunately was unable to do so. I know who I am both as a person and as an artist, and those who know my heart know my values, too. I don't know your heart, but I do know what your values are, Ed Sheeran, and it's to make as much money as possible by being as inoffensive as you can possibly be. But you tried to ride the fence so [ __ ] hard that you ended up just pissing off everybody. So kudos to you because like fence sitting at this level, like to even attempt it is almost impressive. Like I didn't think we'd see somebody almost like do the caricature of the centrist. But you, my friend, are truly the final boss of centism. and both sides is them. And I've got to say, I hope you never ever lived this [ __ ] down. And uh as I alluded to earlier, it is getting worse because as the Guardian reports, all four supporting acts for upcoming dates of Ed Sheeran's loop tour have withdrawn in solidarity with fellow opening act Mlemore as backlash grows to his removal from the tour over onstage comments in support of Palestine. Finineas, the singer who was scheduled to open for Sharon on six South American dates in November, withdrew from the tour on Tuesday afternoon, hours after Sharan posted his own lengthy statement to Instagram, explaining pressure from venue owners to remove McLemore for pro Palestine comments made during two shows at New Jerseys Metife Stadium. The decision came shortly after Aaron Row, an Irish singer who opened for Sharon in Australia earlier this year and was scheduled for the 10 remaining dates in North America, announced his own withdrawal from the tour. "I don't take the decision lightly," he wrote on Instagram. "Ed has been a friend to me and has changed my life. I could never thank him enough for this. But as Irish people, we know all too well about genocide, forced famine, and violent occupation. I cannot stand by and allow billionaires to use their positions of power to silence the rightful voices of those who speak up against the Israeli genocide and who highlight the savage murder of children. I would lose all respect for myself to carry on as normal. The Irish banda which performs as Sharan's backing band announced after Row that they would also depart the US tour to protest the silencing of McLemore by Zionist lobbies. But that's not all. The Danish pop band Lucas Graham also dropped out of the tour on Tuesday afternoon. Quote, "We should be able to speak about war, about civilians being killed, about children who deserve to grow up wherever they live, whatever flag flies over them," wrote lead singer Lucas Forgehammer on the band social media. "Money doesn't give you the right to own the conversation. Nobody's bank balance should decide who gets to speak or which suffering we're allowed to acknowledge." In other words, Ed Sharon is currently in the finding out phase after [ __ ] around. He could have taken a stand. He could have stood in solidarity with McLemore and said, "You know what? I'm going to cancel this tour as well because I don't think it's right to have somebody I was touring with be silenced for speaking up against the genocide." But he's choosing to to try to just muscle on through it. And as you see, it's making him look worse. So, I don't know. Maybe he should make another Instagram post and uh try to explain himself and both sides it even harder. Maybe maybe that's going to work. I don't know. But let this be a lesson to every other fence sitting centrist piece of [ __ ] That not taking a stand during the most well doumented genocide in history is in fact you taking a stand. You can't both sides your way out of this. Either you are going to condemn it or we're going to assume that you support it because to not speak out against crimes of against humanity at this level, it truly says something about your character. Ignorance is one thing, but when you actually are presented with an opportunity to educate yourself, when you're given the choice to take a stand, to just waffle to to fold like a cheap lawn chair, that really says something about who you are as a person. So, um, Ed Sheeran is a piece of [ __ ] and I hope that he understands just how pissed off we are. And I would boycott Ed Sheeran, but I've already been doing that. So, I guess I will continue to do the same thing that I've been doing for years whenever his music comes on. I will hit skip and I hope that you do that, too. Because really, a piece of [ __ ] like this who stands for nothing, who has zero spine, doesn't deserve your support. There are other artists who probably actually do have values and principles that could use your support. So, at least in the meantime, maybe like don't listen to Ed Sheeran. And if you bought tickets, you should try to get a refund because what he did here really is unforgivable. And I hope he never lives this down. He doesn't deserve to because this is a [ __ ] move. And I'm glad he's paying at least some consequences for it. Alpha male. Not a beta male.