Just sing, we don’t need your politics!

TBF I don't think he felt he could ignore 'the elephant in the room'. If he'd stayed silent it could have been seen as his support for what Israel is doing in Gaza which he and many, are rightly appalled by.

I think these singers and actors should do what they do best- sing and act. Leave the politics to others.

Depends IMO whether you regard it as a political statement or a moral one. For me Ed Sherran's was moral.

I agree with smileless

Art has always commented on wars, injustice etc. I have no issue with it whatsoever.

Smileless and Whitewave have it. I feel Sheeran was left with no option but to respond to the criticism. Art and politics have always been linked

Ed was put in this position by one of his support artists.

His band and other support acts all walked out.

He performed on stage on his own in front of over 50,000 people 👏👏👏

He has always stayed politically neutral, I thought his words were apt.

Iam64

Smileless and Whitewave have it. I feel Sheeran was left with no option but to respond to the criticism. Art and politics have always been linked

“Art for arts sake”.

Ed Sheeran could have made a statement at the end of his tour or via his publicist, it did not need an audience.

I don’t believe art and politics should be linked.

Politics were always a part of the music industry. Protest songs of the 70’s played a part in influencing the end of the Viet Nam war. All arts are a form of expression and should not be censored.

Is perfectly ok for artists of all descriptions to express their horror regarding a situation like Gaza. Freedom of speech extends to everyone.
Indeed Bob Dylan famously advised Lennon once saying - and I don’t quote verbatim - “why have a huge platform when you can’t send out a message’. In this instance was about the Vietnam war.
And we have seen how Live Aid and other concerts have raised public awareness and funds to help with certain issues around the world.
Free Nelson Mandela was a great concert and I don’t think anyone could quibble about the need for this issue to be expressed freely by artists.

He was indeed in a position where not commenting in some way had ceased to be an option.
I thought his words were well chosen and moderate. He then went on to give his audience an enjoyable evening's entertainment. Well done Ed!

I am with Ricky Gervais, Collect your little award, thank your god, then F—-off! Halarious!

Does anyone listen to these rants? I end up fast forwarding

Ed Sheeran is overrated and his production-line tunes are little better than musical wallpaper. Supermarket muzak and ditto his opinions on politics, climate change, AI, the end of the world, the Man in the Moon, etc, etc......

I totally disagree )surprise surprise 😂🤣😂)

If a singer or performer is political and feels strongly about things, they have a great platform and reach.

It’s not new! I can remember both Jane Fonda and Glenda Jackson making political points on stage.

With Ed Sheeran he was caught between a rock and a hard place, being very heavily criticised for not supporting his support, to the point where he felt he had no choice but to speak.

I can remember seeing Billy Bragg, now there was a political singer.

I have a friend who is a huge Bruce Springsteen fan, tries to go to all his UK concerts.

I know she was disappointed at I think last year’s when he used the show to speak about his political views at length.

She said she wanted to hear him sing, not listen to his political take on stuff.

Margs

Ed Sheeran is overrated and his production-line tunes are little better than musical wallpaper. Supermarket muzak and ditto his opinions on politics, climate change, AI, the end of the world, the Man in the Moon, etc, etc......

It’s great to hear how much you admire him 🤣😂🤣😂

Each to their own.

Music, like art, like poetry, like comedy, like most things is such a personal matter.

I quite like a bit of Sheeran in the car.

Nobody likes everybody

MT62

I am with Ricky Gervais, Collect your little award, thank your god, then F—-off! Halarious!

😂🤣😂🤣😂

Fallingstar

Is perfectly ok for artists of all descriptions to express their horror regarding a situation like Gaza. Freedom of speech extends to everyone.
Indeed Bob Dylan famously advised Lennon once saying - and I don’t quote verbatim - “why have a huge platform when you can’t send out a message’. In this instance was about the Vietnam war.
And we have seen how Live Aid and other concerts have raised public awareness and funds to help with certain issues around the world.
Free Nelson Mandela was a great concert and I don’t think anyone could quibble about the need for this issue to be expressed freely by artists.

👏👏👏👏👏

I’m with Noel Gallagher from Oasis (Manchester band). On Political Musicians: Dislikes preaching and political flag-waving at festivals like Glastonbury, stating artists should just "play your fucking tunes and get off".

I,m with you *cossy *politics and music have long been intertwined.
You can’t seperate them for the”I don’t do politics* brigade,the whole of life is affected by politics .
I think Ed had to stand up and be counted,Whats the saying about evil only prevailing when good men are silent?
We all need to stand up to the evils being committed y the State of Israel and the vile Netanyahu and his equally vile IDF .
If we don’t then I believe there isno hope for peace in the world