\n<\/p>\n
Could Sheeran have handled it better when the controversy blew up? Absolutely.<\/p>\n
In his statement, he said he wanted to continue the tour, to avoid letting down fans and the crew who rely on his concerts to make a living.<\/p>\n
If he had threatened to pull the plug on the shows, he could have framed it as a protest for free speech – although that would still inevitably have been interpreted as an endorsement of Macklemore’s statements.<\/p>\n
So, Sheeran stumbled into a Catch 22 situation. He was damned either way.<\/p>\n
His nice guy image has taken a huge dent, and the “not my responsibility” tone of his statement certainly didn’t help.<\/p>\n
Ingold says: “I think it will change the way people look at him and see him from this point forward.<\/p>\n
“He has said he’s not complicit, but he actually is incredibly complicit in what’s happening [on this tour].”<\/p>\n
Jem Aswad, executive music editor of Variety, says the episode shows “you can’t be neutral on this issue” – but points out that most people don’t go to Sheeran’s concerts to be reminded of issues like Gaza, “they go there to stop thinking about it and be entertained”.<\/p>\n
Aswad doubts that this controversy will cause his career major damage, saying he doesn’t think most of the criticism “is necessarily coming from Ed Sheeran’s fans”.<\/p>\n
“It’s coming from people who object to the way that he’s behaved in this [situation], and I’m not sure a lot of those people are really Ed Sheeran’s fans.”<\/p>\n
We’ll find out when Sheeran plays his next show in Philadelphia on Saturday. A vocal contingent might make their thoughts known, but many will just be turning up to enjoy the music.<\/p>\n
The loss of his backing band isn’t the disaster it may seem, either.<\/p>\n
On previous tours, Sheeran has been the only artist on stage – accompanying himself on a loop pedal instead of relying on other musicians.<\/p>\n
But once this run of concerts ends in Mexico this December, his next steps will have to be carefully planned.<\/p>\n
Perhaps, in an age of febrile discontent, staying above the fray is simply impossible.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n