Is Ed Sheeran the only ginger not to have converted to Islam? The multi-billion-streaming folk star seems to have an immunity to the Gaza-tardation infecting the music industry. Fellow-ginger Macklemore, by contrast, is suffering stage-four Israel Derangement Syndrome. The pop-rapper’s affliction began years ago with Jew-costumes and Sieg Heils. This week it got him sacked from Sheeran’s Loop Tour.
Rather predictably, Macklemore, real name Benjamin Haggerty, has the support of his Generation Gaza music peers. Solidarity came from fellow support acts on the tour, Aaron Rowe, Lukas Graham, and Billie Eilish’s brother Finneas. The latter is also ginger. This may help explain things.
Even Sheeran’s actual backing band – Beoga – have pulled out of the stadium run. Beoga, like Aaron Rowe, are from Ireland, perhaps the nation with the highest per capita infection rate of Israel Derangement Syndrome. And though they may not be openly ginger, their Irish heritage makes them likely carriers of the regressive red gene.
Now I feel for Sheeran. The row began at his MetLife Stadium show last week, when Macklemore used his opening slots to splurge the hackneyed “Free Palestine” platitudes we’ve all grown tired of. But, crucially, “To all of my Jewish brothers and sisters … being against genocide, in no way is a criticism of you,” he lectured.
Except, of course, a false accusation of genocide against the one Jewish state in a war they did not start is very much the ugly ancient blood libel repackaged. And the accompanying video of the horrors of the Gaza war might not be everyone’s idea of a family night out.
Backlash followed – P!nk shared a condemning post and the Israeli-American Council launched a petition for his removal. Macklemore said Sheeran told him Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots, would bar him from playing his Gillette Stadium. Kraft confirmed as much. Messina Touring Group – Sheeran’s tour promoters – announced that venues would not allow the remaining concerts to go ahead with Macklemore on the line-up. So he was pulled.
Sheeran insisted the decision was the promoter’s, not his. For the English mega-star it’s lose-lose. “I am not complicit. Those who come to my shows do not expect a political forum.” The Sheeran dog-pile of the deranged far-left activists who dominate music has expanded to include politician AOC, mentally disabled omni-cause campaigner Greta Thunberg, and Hacks actress Hannah Einbinder, who noted “as a ginger” she hoped he got a “really bad sunburn.”
If Sheeran pulls the gig, as they are insisting, he punishes the fans, the crew, his staff and the countless other workers counting on the tour. If he goes ahead, he retains the opprobrium of his peers. Already Classic Hits Radio has pulled him from rotation in Ireland. Even if it were possible to keep the Israel-bashing rapper on the tour – Sheeran would have to face the continued backlash of fans, especially Jewish fans, who may or may not enjoy being accused of blood libel out at a pop concert.
Macklemore’s blood libel is nothing new. He was swept up in the Islamist propaganda from the start of the Israel–Hamas war. Before Israel had even begun their response to the horrors of 7 October he was already describing it as an “unfolding genocide”. Meanwhile ignoring Hamas’s responsibility as they kept those hostages hidden away in the labyrinth below the sand.
Herein lies the problem. Macklemore’s acute mental afflictions were known long before he was booked onto Sheeran’s mega-tour. If Kraft had objections, they should’ve been made before the tour was announced. Even Sheeran should’ve known better.
I remember a short run of shows my band Mumford & Sons headlined back in 2019 with Portland, Oregon band Portugal. The Man in support…
