As Macklemore example shows, ACTUALLY opposing the Israeli occupation means NOT putting personal careers ahead of the fight. Why? The apartheid Israeli state and its genocidal policies exist at the behest of the billionaires and multimillionaires who want to maintain control over the Middle East and their political representatives. Which means that Palestinian solidarity REQUIRES pissing off extremely powerful and wealthy individuals.
Macklemore has shown that he's willing to do that. As have Kneecap and Bob Vylan. As have the Filton 4 and countless working and young people across the world, including tech workers.
Ed Sheeran, who has about $400 million in wealth, has decided to put his own money and career ahead of the need for Palestinian solidarity. Sheeran said: “I am not complicit. . . . Just because I choose not to speak publicly, . . . it doesn’t mean I don’t care.”
Yes, Ed Sheeran, you ARE complicit, as are any public figures with real influence and ability to build the movement against Israeli apartheid but who refuse to do so. This applies even more so to the leadership of the Democratic Socialists of America and their elected officials like Zohran Mamdani and AOC, who claim to be pro-Palestinian but whose many actions have shown otherwise.
Mamdani has endorsed arch Zionists Kathy Hochul and Hakeem Jeffries. AOC has also endorsed Jeffries, and voted against cutting funds for the Israeli military with the idea that Israel should get “defensive” weapons so it can carry out genocide with impunity. Such actions constitute a whitewashing of Zionism and are geared towards keeping cordial relations with powerful Zionists and building careers in the Democratic Party.
Related Off-site Links:
Macklemore’s Tour Cancellation Shows Why Celebrities Don’t Criticize Israel – Caitlin Johnstone (Caitlin’s Newsletter, September 14, 2026).
Macklemore Responds After Removal From Ed Sheeran Tour: “The Victims Are the Palestinian People” – Ethan Millman (The Hollywood Reporter, September 14, 2026).
Robert Kraft, Associate of Jeffrey Epstein, Defends Banning Macklemore from Ed Sheeran Tour After ‘Free Palestine’ Comments: “We Do Not Provide a Platform for Hate Speech” – Jem Aswad (Variety, September 14, 2026).
Macklemore Exposes Robert Kraft in Explosive Ed Sheeran Tour Fallout After “Free Palestine” Controversy – Oindrila Chowdhury (Sportskeeda, September 15, 2026).
Ed Sheeran’s Craven “Neutrality” Is a Watershed Moment for Mainstreaming Palestine Solidarity – Natasha Lennard (Common Dreams, September 16, 2026).
Ed Sheeran Openers Quit Tour as Boycott Begins Over “Silencing” of Macklemore’s Palestine Speech – Stephen Prager (Common Dreams, September 16, 2026).
Macklemore Donating Entire $1 Million Tour Earnings to Palestinian Aid, Challenges Robert Kraft to Match – Brett Meiselas (Meidas News, September 16, 2026).
Ed Sheeran Wants to Stay Out of Politics. By Quitting His Tour, His Support Acts Have Exposed the Hollowness of Neutrality – Laura Snapes (The Guardian, September 16, 2026).
See also the previous Wild Reed posts:
• Caitlin Johnstone on the Need to Cultivate Integrity – As Both an Individual and a Society
• What Integrity Looks Like
• Ed Sheeran Chooses the Side of the Oppressor
• Truth-telling in the Face of Systemic Power That Is Silent on Genocide
• Genevieve Fraser: Quote of the Day – August 26, 2026
• Jonny Rashid: Quote of the Day – August 10, 2026
• “The Genocide in Gaza Is the Beginning. Welcome to the New World Order”
• Omid Safi: Quote of the Day – March 7, 2026
• Kym Staton: Quote of the Day – March 3, 2026
• The Architecture of Settler Colonialism
• “It Is Up to Us”
• No Justice, No Peace
For more of Kshama Sawant at The Wild Reed, see:
• Kshama Sawant on the Real Reason for Jacobin Magazine’s “Hatchet Job” on Chris Smalls
• Progressive Perspectives on the Trump Regime’s Illegal Attack on Venezuela
• Kshama Sawant on the Democrats’ Shutdown Cave
• Kshama Sawant: Independent Working-class Campaigns Can Succeed
• A Timely and Important Conversation
• Fighting the Rich and Their Two Parties
• We’re Witnessing a Liberal Meltdown Over Jill Stein
• History Matters
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