Comedian Kathy Griffin took aim at Ed Sheeran on Wednesday, chastising the singer for not confronting billionaire Robert Kraft after the owner of Gillette Stadium barred Macklemore from performing as his opening act due to the rapper's pro-Palestine remarks. Griffin, in an interview with Queerty, expressed her disappointment that Sheeran did not defend Macklemore when Kraft claimed that other stadium owners would also refuse to allow him to perform.
“Let’s not be listening to f—— Robert Kraft,” Griffin said. She argued that Sheeran should have told Kraft to “go f— yourself,” asserting that Sheeran had more options, including the ability to perform for large audiences elsewhere. “He had more options.”
The controversy erupted earlier this month when Macklemore, known for his socially conscious lyrics, pushed for a “Free Palestine” during his sets, even performing his song “Hind’s Hall,” which addresses the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Sheeran, while distancing himself from the decision, confirmed that the choice to remove Macklemore from the tour ultimately came from concert promoters and venue management. However, Griffin contended that Sheeran could have taken a stand against Kraft's actions.
Griffin, who has been vocal about her own support for the Palestinian cause, stated that she believes Macklemore’s comments fall under the protection of the First Amendment. “I don’t think ‘Free Palestine’ is such a controversial thing to say because that’s a genuine genocide that is happening there, in my opinion,” she said. Her comments reflect a broader sentiment among some in the entertainment industry who have criticized the pressure placed on artists to conform to certain political narratives.
In response to his removal from Sheeran’s tour, Macklemore announced plans for his own “Free Palestine Tour.” He has scheduled three performances: Dublin on October 26, Paris on October 29, and London on October 30. This move has been interpreted as a direct rebuttal to the censorship he faced.
While Macklemore has received backing from progressive figures for his political stance, he has also faced backlash from pro-Israel organizations. The Israeli-American Council (IAC) publicly supported Kraft’s decision, issuing a statement that commended the stadium owner for taking a stand against what they described as antisemitism. “Robert Kraft’s moral leadership establishes what should be an obvious principle: a performer who traffics in antisemitism should not be given a stage,” the IAC stated.
Griffin's comments add another layer to an ongoing debate within the entertainment community regarding artistic freedom and political expression. Artists often find themselves at the crossroads of their creative messages and the potential backlash from various stakeholders.
While Sheeran’s representatives have not publicly responded to Griffin's remarks, the fallout from this incident may influence future collaborations and the dynamics between artists and venue owners. The implications of Macklemore's removal from Sheeran’s tour extend beyond their individual careers, touching on larger issues of free speech and artistic expression in today’s sociopolitical climate.
As the entertainment world continues to grapple with these tensions, the actions taken by figures like Griffin and Macklemore might resonate with a growing audience seeking to align artistic integrity with political activism. The landscape remains charged, with each decision shaping the narrative around freedom of expression in music and performance.
According to NY POST.
