Richard Boyd Barrett praises Aaron Rowe’s withdrawal from the tour
Teachta Dála for Dún Laoghaire, commenting on Aaron Rowe’s post
“So proud of Aaron. A brave and selfless act to stand with Palestine & humanity against Israel’s barbarism and the billionaires that support their crimes. Aaron you have upheld Ireland’s noble tradition of resistance to colonialism & Empire. So proud!”
Source and context
Original post
About this source
The comment was read directly from the post’s thread rather than taken from reporting. The commenting account is verified as the politician’s: the Oireachtas member page publishes his X and Facebook accounts, and the Instagram account carries the display name “Richard Boyd Barrett TD.”
Before the quotation
Aaron Rowe had announced hours earlier that he was withdrawing as a support act on the Loop Tour, citing Irish history and billionaires silencing speech.
After the quotation
The characterisations of Israel’s conduct and of the stadium owners are the speaker’s own and are contested by other speakers in this case. The comment names Rowe rather than Macklemore, Sheeran or the promoter.
How this statement is classified
Case context: Macklemore’s “Free Palestine” speech and removal from Ed Sheeran’s U.S. tour
The label describes this statement’s response within the context above.
Why this label?
Relative to Macklemore’s MetLife speech and his removal, Boyd Barrett endorses the act of standing with Palestine against what he calls the billionaires supporting Israel’s conduct, which in this dispute refers to the stadium owners who pressed for Macklemore’s removal. He praises the protest rather than only expressing sympathy. The comment addresses Rowe’s withdrawal directly and Macklemore’s removal only through it, which is why it sits at the edge of the case scope.
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- Published here
- People and groups discussed
- Macklemore
Macklemore’s “Free Palestine” speech and removal from Ed Sheeran’s U.S. tour
Explore the case context, sources and public responses.
More from this case
Read the full case“Glad to see Macklemore off Ed Sheeran’s tour. For years, Macklemore has pushed antisemitic tropes and demonized Israel and Israelis. Now he certainly has the 1A right to speak out and express his views, but demonizing Jews and Israelis shouldn’t be rewarded.”Read statement
“When your only response to dissent is to use power and wealth to make it go away, you are going to have the opposite effect. People can see what’s happening in the Middle East with their eyes and don’t want to be told what they’re allowed to think by people who own stadiums.”Read statement
“Folks have platforms and use their positions to express their feelings around human rights, around protecting people, but it seems there’s always an exception when it comes to Palestinian lives.” … “It’s unfortunate because he said he doesn’t want to take sides, but he did on Ukraine. ‘I’m for human rights,’ except for Palestinians. … There’s always an exception for Palestinian people, as if we’re disposable.” … “I stopped respecting him.”Read statement