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Rod Stewart's bizarre Ed Sheeran call out

Rod Stewart has called out Ed Sheeran in a bizarre rant, saying he doesn't think the pop singer's music will stand the test of time. In a recent interview, the 79-year-old rocker was discussing what musicians would continue to be popular with the younger generations, although the interview quickly went awry when he couldn't remember the name of who he was thinking about. “You mean like ‘Maggie May’? Songs that will be played in 50 years?” Stewart said in response to the question. “I like whatshisname. Oh f**king great, Rod. Well done,” said the rocker, unable to remember the name of the star he was thinking of. “He’s British, really talented and his songs will be around,” he continued. When the interviewer suggested that Sheeran was the person whose name he forgot, Stewart was quick to hit back by proclaiming himself to not being a fan of the singer-songwriter. “No, not Ed, I don’t know any of his songs, old ginger bollocks. Jesus,” moaned Stewart. Ultimately, Stewart was thinking of another British singer: George Ezra. “Yes! I think he writes really tremendous songs,” he said of Ezra. “He’ll be around for quite a while.” Stewart's comments come after he admitted he wanted to move in a different direction with his music from now on. During an interview on BBC Breakfast, Stewart responded to a statement that host Charlie Stayt made, saying that “rock stars are performing into incredible ages now.” Stewart reacted and said, “I am actually stopping.” “I’m not retiring but I want to move on,” Stewart noted. “I had great success with The Great American Songbook … and I’ve just done a swing album with Jools Holland, which is going to come out next year, so I want to go in that direction.” “I just want to leave all the rock ‘n’ roll stuff behind, for a while, maybe.” “Everything has to come to an end sooner or later,” Stewart declared. Image credits: Getty Images

Music

"Magical": Ed Sheeran crashes wedding after cancelled Vegas concert

Ed Sheeran, the man of the hour, recently pulled off a surprise move that left a wedding chapel feeling less little and a lot more magical. After recently being forced to <a href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/entertainment/music/ed-sheeran-fans-left-devastated-moments-before-show" target="_blank" rel="noopener">scrap his Las Vegas gig</a> due to some venue woes, he stumbled upon a teeny spot he couldn't resist: The Little White Wedding Chapel. In a moment that's now etched in matrimonial history, Sheeran couldn't resist the urge to crash Jordan and Carter Lindenfield's intimate wedding ceremony. And boy, oh boy, was it a surprise! The couple were just about to say their "I dos" when up popped Ed Sheeran like a musical jack-in-the-box. Strolling in with an acoustic guitar and a gang of backup singers, ready to serenade the lovebirds with his upcoming single, "Magical", the jaw-dropping, starstruck expressions from the bride and groom said it all. After Sheeran finished crooning his heart out for the tearful duo, they sealed the deal with a kiss and the all-important certificate-signing ritual. But here's the kicker: Sheeran himself became an official witness to their nuptials, sheepishly admitting: "This is the first time I've been a witness." As if the entire affair wasn't surreal enough, Ed took to Instagram to immortalise the moment, captioning it with the understatement of the century: "Crashed a wedding, this is Magical." The fans, always ready to hop on the Sheeran bandwagon, couldn't contain their excitement in the comments section. Some were so swept away by the thought of Ed showing up at their own weddings that they contemplated tying the knot, fiancé or not. "I never wanted to get married, but if this could happen, I might reconsider," one fan playfully quipped. Another enthusiastic soul chimed in, "You can crash my wedding too! No date set, and I'm still looking for the fiancé, but hey, baby steps." This isn't the first time Sheeran has indulged in his wedding-crashing whims. In 2015, he made headlines by gatecrashing a wedding ceremony in Sydney, courtesy of a local radio station. They had organised the dream wedding for a couple who had faced some serious hardships, so Sheeran decided to sprinkle some stardust on their special day. Fast forward to the present, and Ed's spontaneous wedding performances are still going strong. This latest magical moment came hot on the heels of his Las Vegas concert cancellation. He had to break the news to fans just an hour before showtime. But he then went on to assure everyone that the safety of his fans was his top priority. "I really am gutted," he confessed, but promised that the rescheduled show on October 28 would be nothing short of spectacular.

Music

Ed Sheeran fans left devastated moments before show

Ed Sheeran has been forced to abruptly cancel his show in Las Vegas, just hours before it was set to begin. The British singer-songwriter, who is coming to the end of his Mathematics World Tour, broke the news to devastated fans on Sunday, saying he was "so sorry" for the last minute cancellation. Sheeran wrote on Instagram, “I can’t believe I’m typing this but there’s been some challenges encountered during the load in of our Vegas show." He continued, “It’s impossible to go forward with the show. I’m so sorry. I know everyone has travelled in for this and I wish I could change it." “The gig will be postponed to Saturday October 28th and all purchased tickets will be valid for that date. I’m so, so sorry x.” Fans were quick to express their disappointment, with many saying they had travelled to attend the show and weren't able to come back for the postponed gig. One fan wrote, “I can’t believe we travelled all the way to Vegas 10 hours to see Ed Sheeran for him to cancel less than an hour before the show." “My poor husband a disabled vet along with so many people standing waiting on 103 degree heat to be turned away!!! I can’t come back in October, and no refund!!” Many demanded an explanation as to how the gig could be cancelled at such short notice, to which Ed took to Instagram again in the hours after the cancellation to shed some light on the issue. According to his statement on Instagram, the show was cancelled over safety concerns when two tall towers, used to hold up the stage and lighting equipment, had become unstable. Despite best efforts to restabilise the structures, the issue then travelled to the safety of the floor, which was set to hold 65,000 concertgoers, and the whole show had to be cancelled. Adding to the explanation, Sheeran wrote, "I really am gutted, this was very much out of my control but I do take full responsibility for everyone that was put out from the cancellation. Of course refunds are available at point of purchase, and there is a rescheduled show October the 28th if people still want to come, I promise it will be special." "We really thought the show was going to happen up until the very last moment but it just couldn’t for safety reasons. Sorry again to everyone affected, and hopefully see you in October x". Image credits: Getty Images

Music

Inspiration, influence and theft: what the Ed Sheeran case can tell us about 70 years of pop music

a US court <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/may/04/ed-sheeran-verdict-not-liable-copyright-lawsuit-marvin-gaye">ruled in favour of singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran</a>, agreeing his song Thinking Out Loud did not breach musical copyright. The high-profile court case, brought by the estate of soul singer Marvin Gaye, claimed Sheeran’s song was too similar to Gaye’s song Let’s Get It On. On the stand, Sheeran <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/apr/28/ed-sheeran-sings-in-court-as-part-of-marvin-gaye-copyright-case">defended his songwriting process</a>, stating: “I draw inspiration from a lot from things in my life and family.” Sheeran’s case brought up some difficult questions around what we understand as inspiration and influence, and what we may hear as theft. Musical copyright cases are part of songwriting history. Radiohead’s Creep was found to be <a href="https://entertainment.time.com/2013/08/22/11-suspiciously-sound-alike-songs/slide/the-hollies-the-air-that-i-breathe-1974-vs-radiohead-creep-1992/">too similar</a> to the Hollies’ The Air That I Breathe, and in 2018, Lana Del Rey’s Get Free <a href="https://variety.com/2018/biz/news/lana-del-rey-claims-lawsuit-with-radiohead-is-over-watch-1202736177/">was found to plagiarise Creep</a>. Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars altered the credits to Uptown Funk to <a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/lawsuit-bmg-uptown-funk-royalties-gap-band-heirs-1234660379/">acknowledge the similarity</a> to The Gap Band’s Oops Upside Your Head. Here in Australia, the flute solo in Men at Work’s Down Under, which quoted the melody of folk song Kookaburra Sits in the Old Gum Tree, was <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/jul/06/men-at-work-down-under">ruled as plagiarism</a>. In this case against Sheeran, the song’s chord progression was at the heart of the claim. The prosecution argued Sheeran’s chord progression was too similar to the chord progression of Gaye’s. But can we copyright a chord progression if it is used extensively in other pop songs? Gaye’s song uses four chords that gradually move upward (I-iii-IV-V). These same chords can be heard in the Beach Boys’ I Can Hear Music, the Seekers’ Georgy Girl, the Beatles’ I Feel Fine, in the Motown tune This Old Heart of Mine by the Isley Brothers, Elvis Presley’s Suspicious Minds, Cher’s Believe and ABBA’s Knowing Me Knowing You, among many others. This chord progression and many others are part of the songwriting toolkit of rock and pop and have been heard continuously over the past 70 years. <h2>The 12 bar blues</h2> A chord progression is the main instrumental part you hear in most pop music, usually played by a guitar, piano or synth. One of the oldest chord progressions in pop is the 12-bar blues – a looping pattern of three chords that is very identifiable. As the name suggests, this set of chords stems from early blues and was a way for musicians to easily play together and improvise. A version of this progression can be heard in Muddy Waters’ I’m Your Hoochie Coochie Man or John Lee Hooker’s Boom Boom. You can also hear this progression in a number of other pop songs – listen to verses of Queen’s I Want to Break Free and Kiss by Prince – both use the same chord progression, but sound very different to each other. More recently, Lizzo’s Better in Colour uses the 12-bar blues in a way that makes an old formula fresh. <h2>The ‘doo-wop’ progression</h2> The “doo-wop” progression has appeared in pop music for close to 80 years, and is named because most doo-wop songs feature this chord progression – it was an essential part of its sound. You can hear it in 1950s hits such as the Penguins’ Earth Angel and Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers’ Why Do Fools Fall in Love?. The strength of these chords means they are used in pop music of all kinds, including ELO’s Telephone Line, Don’t Dream it’s Over by Crowded House, Destiny’s Child’s Say My Name, Blank Space by Taylor Swift, and Flowers by Miley Cyrus. Despite its consistent use, these chords still cross genres and eras, and still catch our ears. Comedy act Axis of Awesome use a similar progression in their video for 4 Chords, where they cleverly play almost 50 different songs with a variation on these four simple chords. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oOlDewpCfZQ" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <h2>The I-IV-V (the ‘one, four, five’)</h2> Perhaps the most common chord progressions in rock and pop are those that use the I, IV and V chords in various combinations. They’re usually the first three chords you learn on an instrument and open up thousands of songs to play – from the rock and roll of Summertime Blues by Eddie Cochran, the garage rock of Wild Thing by the Troggs, the bubblegum of Hanson’s Mmmbop and the indie rock of Coldplay’s Yellow, to the modern pop of bad guy by Billie Eilish and good 4 u by Olivia Rodrigo. <h2>Going forward</h2> Rock, pop, blues, doo wop and other musical genres can often be defined by their use of repeated chord progressions. These chord progressions are part of a songwriter’s toolkit in a similar way to how an artist may use different paint brushes. As Sheeran’s lawyer Ilene Farkas <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/may/04/ed-sheeran-verdict-not-liable-copyright-lawsuit-marvin-gaye">noted</a>, chord progressions are, "the letters of the alphabet of music […] these are basic musical building blocks that songwriters now and forever must be free to use." It is how these “building blocks” are used, and in what combinations, that gives us a great variety of pop songs over many decades. The true craft of great pop music is to take these formulas and turn them into something unique (while simultaneously making it sound easy). The ruling in Sheeran’s case supports the rights of musical artists to continue to use these progressions as part of a songwriter’s toolkit, and to build from the artists who came before them. It also acknowledges that influence and inspiration from previous works are part of the construction of the pop music we love. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/inspiration-influence-and-theft-what-the-ed-sheeran-case-can-tell-us-about-70-years-of-pop-music-204747" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.

Music

Decision reached over Ed Sheeran's copyright trial

Ed Sheeran has emerged victorious from a lengthy legal battle that claimed he "ripped off" another popular song. Sheeran, 32, was being sued over his 2014 single Thinking Out Loud by Structured Asset Sales, who claim that Sheeran's hit took elements directly from Marvin Gaye's Let's Get It On. On Thursday, the court ruled that the British singer-songwriter did not plagiarise the song, with the jury of three men and four women only taking three hours to reach a decision. Sheeran stood up and hugged his team after jurors ruled that he “independently” created his song, as he stopped outside the courtroom to thank those who supported him through the legal battle. The pop star added he was “unbelievably frustrated that baseless claims like this” even make it to court. “I’m just a guy with a guitar who loves writing music for people to enjoy. I am not and will never allow myself to be a piggy bank for anyone to shake,” he said outside the court. Sheeran revealed he missed his grandmother’s funeral in Ireland as he sat through the “bogus” and “dangerous” lawsuit that claimed he stole key elements for his hit song. “These cords are common building blocks which were used to create music long before Let’s Get it On was written. Will be used to make music long after we are all gone,” Sheeran said. “They are a songwriter’s alphabet. Our toolkit. And should be there for all of us to use. No one owns them. Or the way they are played. In the same way nobody owns the colour blue.” Ed's victory comes after he declared that if he had lost the case, he would've <a href="https://oversixty.co.nz/entertainment/music/i-m-done-why-ed-sheeran-is-threatening-to-quit-music" target="_blank" rel="noopener">quit</a> the music industry all together. Outside the court room on Monday when the court proceedings were still in progress, he expressed his exasperation over the case, and made a bold statement about the future of his career. "If that happens, I'm done, I'm stopping," Sheeran said, according to reports from <a title="People" href="https://people.com/music/ed-sheeran-done-if-he-loses-lets-get-it-on-copyright-lawsuit/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">People</a>. "I find it to be really insulting," Sheeran added. "I work really hard to be where I'm at." Image credits: Getty Images

Music

"I'm done": Why Ed Sheeran is threatening to quit music

Ed Sheehan has made a bold statement about the future of his career, while fighting an "insulting" court case. The British singer-songwriter is currently embroiled in a copyright case which has seen him take the stand in a New York City courtroom to defend his music. Sheeran, 32, is being sued over his 2014 single Thinking Out Loud by Structured Asset Sales, who claim that Sheeran's hit took elements directly from Marvin Gaye's Let's Get It On. On Monday morning local time, Sheeran took to the stand for a second time, expressing his exasperation over the case, and saying he will quit music if he loses the case. "If that happens, I'm done, I'm stopping," Sheeran said, per <a title="People" href="https://people.com/music/ed-sheeran-done-if-he-loses-lets-get-it-on-copyright-lawsuit/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">People</a>, on the stand when his lawyer, Ilene Farkas, asked him what he would do if the court found Thinking Out Loud to be too similar to Gaye's Let's Get It On. "I find it to be really insulting," Sheeran added. "I work really hard to be where I'm at." Sheeran didn't clarify his comments once court has adjourned, leaving many fans concerned over the future of his career. Structured Asset Sales launched the lawsuit against Sheeran in 2018 after purchasing a third of the shares of Let's Get It On from the family of the song's co-writer, Ed Townsend. During the courtroom proceedings, Sheeran was also cross-examined in court by the plaintiff's lawyer, Robert Frank – which prompted the award-winning singer to complain. "You're trying to diminish my success," Sheeran told Frank on the stand in response to his line of questioning. "Thinking Out Loud was my first Grammy." "It was pretty devastating and pretty frightening because it's something we did not do," Thinking Out Loud co-writer Amy Wage said on the stand about the copyright allegations. Sheeran also referenced the plaintiff's musicologist Alexander Stewart's testimony from last week, which saw Stewart argue Thinking Out Loud and Let's Get It On were "very, very similar". "I think what he's doing is criminal here," Sheeran said of Stewart's testimony. "I don't know why he's allowed to be an expert." Image credits: Getty Images

Music

“Make up your own mind”: Ed Sheeran slams music critics

Ed Sheeran has made a bold declaration that professional music critics are not needed in this day and age. The British singer-songwriter was speaking with <a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/ed-sheeran-interview-jay-z-sword-hot-sauce-bruno-mars-1234704439/">Rolling Stone</a> about the shift to streaming and music in the digital age, when he suggested that critics are obsolete given how accessible music is these days. “Why do you need to read a review?” he questioned. “Listen to it. It’s freely available! Make up your own mind. I would never read an album review and go, ‘I’m not gonna listen to that now.’” Sheeran’s controversial comments were met with mixed reactions, with some fans pointing out that critics have a much more varied role. One music fan said, “Ok, except music critics aren’t just there for ppl to decide what to listen to?? Taking a deeper look at music thru a deeper critical lense [sic], both positive and negative, is a celebration of music as a whole if anything.” Another added, “I don’t even think that critics are meant to sway the general public these days. It’s just a way for journalists to create discourse about music.” Elsewhere in the interview, Sheeran also shared his opinion on dividing music into genres, “I think it’s not being bogged down by what you started off as.” “I think there’s two genres. It’s good and bad. And I don’t think kids believe in genres anymore, either. Now it’s just playlists and kids are like, well, I like this song by this artist, and I like this song by that artist. And it might be a Skrillex song next to a Doja Cat song next to a Kendrick Lamar song.” Image credits: Getty Images

Music

Ed Sheeran shoots for the stars with daughter’s name reveal

When Ed Sheeran and his wife Cherry Seaborn announced the birth of their second child in May 2022, they kept things simple. In a post to social media, Sheeran shared a picture of socks on a crochet blanket, with a caption reading “Want to let you all know we’ve had another beautiful baby girl. We are both so in love with her, and over the moon to be a family of 4”. The couple shared no ‘face reveal’ - opting to keep their children far removed from the public eye - and did not share their youngest daughter’s name with Sheeran’s 42.8m followers. But in a March interview with Rolling Stone, the 32-year-old singer-songwriter took everyone by surprise, opening up about his family life, and revealing the out-of-this-world moniker bestowed upon their youngest, Jupiter. “Me and Cherry were talking earlier about how it’s so lovely,” he told the publication, opening up about the little things in life that he and his family cherish the most. “We had an entire day. We did nothing but this. It’s so nice and wholesome having family on tour. “On the last tour, I’d party till 7 am, sleep till 4 pm, get up, and do the gig. But I was like, 26. It’s very different.” Jupiter’s birth, and establishing their new “lovely” life, were no easy feats for the couple. In February 2022 - a month that was already proving determined to knock Sheeran down - when Cherry was six months along in her pregnancy, she was diagnosed with a tumour. Surgery was required, but couldn’t be performed until she had given birth. As Sheeran wrote in a post outlining plans for his album Subtract, “Within the space of a month, my pregnant wife got told she had a tumour, with no route to treatment until after the birth. My best friend Jamal, a brother to me, died suddenly, and I found myself standing in court defending my integrity and career as a songwriter. “I was spiralling through fear, depression and anxiety. I felt like I was drowning, head below the surface, looking up but not being able to break through for air.” “There’s nothing you can do about it,” he confessed to Rolling Stone. “You feel so powerless.” Over the course of his interview, Sheeran toyed with a chain bracelet - one gifted to him by his wife, with their daughters’ name engraved. “It felt symbolic,” he said of the swap to the silver from the rubber bands that had previously adorned his wrist, “to take off those bracelets and put on one for my family.” After the slew of tragedies to hit Sheeran in such a short span of time, it was Cherry who realised that he was in need of professional help, leading to the singer seeking out a therapist. “No one really talks about their feelings where I come from,” he said. “People think it’s weird getting a therapist in England … I think it’s very helpful to be able to speak with someone and just vent and not feel guilty about venting. Obviously, like, I’ve lived a very privileged life. So my friends would always look at me like, ‘Oh, it’s not that bad.’ ” “The help isn’t a button that is pressed, where you’re automatically okay,” he added. “It is something that will always be there and just has to be managed.” And as Sheeran himself <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/writing-songs-is-my-therapy-ed-sheeran-reveals-further-heartbreak">wrote in his Subtract post</a>, “Writing songs is my therapy. It helps me make sense of my feelings … in just over a week I replaced a decade’s worth of work with my deepest darkest thoughts.” Images: Getty

Family & Pets

"I felt like I was drowning": Ed Sheeran breaks down

Ed Sheeran has spared no emotion in a new docuseries covering a very turbulent time in his life. In the first trailer for Ed Sheeran: The Sum Of It All, the singer can be heard laughing about how when he was first approached about the documentary, he assumed it would cover his time in the studio working on his new album. To Sheeran’s surprise, the four-part Disney+ series is set to capture the hardships in the British star’s life as his wife, Cherry Seaborn, battled with a tumour while pregnant with the pair’s second child and just as he lost one of his closest friends, Jamal Edwards. The clip includes a montage of moments featuring an emotional Sheeran, 32, breaking down on stage and in private as he deals with the turmoiltuous time he’s been faced with. "I've never seen him cry on stage," his wife admitted in a clip. "He hasn't had time to process and be at peace with his thoughts." Sheeran, who is the father to daughters, Lyra, 2, and Jupiter, 10 months, is also heard saying how his wife changed his life. "Everything in my life sort of got so much better when Cherry came into it," he says. <a href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/health/caring/writing-songs-is-my-therapy-ed-sheeran-reveals-further-heartbreak" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sheeran first opened up about these two private, painful events in a social media post</a>, revealing how they influenced his upcoming album, Subtract. "At the start of 2022, a series of events changed my life, my mental health, and ultimately the way I viewed music and art," Sheeran wrote. "Writing songs is my therapy. It helps me make sense of my feelings. I wrote without thought of what the songs would be, I just wrote whatever tumbled out. "And in just over a week, I replaced a decade's worth of work with my deepest darkest thoughts. "Within the space of a month, my pregnant wife got told she had a tumour, with no route to treatment until after the birth. "My best friend Jamal, a brother to me, died suddenly and I found myself standing in court defending my integrity and career as a songwriter. I was spiralling through fear, depression and anxiety. "I felt like I was drowning, head below the surface, looking up but not being able to break through for air.” Sheeran also <a href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/tragedy-strikes-ed-sheeran-tour" target="_blank" rel="noopener">suffered the loss of his close friend and co-worker's 16-year-old son in early 2023.</a> Ed Sheeran: The Sum Of It All will be released on Disney+ on May 3 2023. Image credit: Disney+

"Writing songs is my therapy": Ed Sheeran reveals further heartbreak

In the wake of the tragic news of the <a href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/tragedy-strikes-ed-sheeran-tour" target="_blank" rel="noopener">heartbreaking loss</a> suffered by his co-writer and touring partner, Ed Sheeran has taken to Instagram to share his struggle following a series of life-changing events – and how this has altered the course of his new album, Subtract. The singer shared how he “spiralled” into depression last year after his wife, Cherry, was diagnosed with a tumour during her second pregnancy, which couldn’t be treated until after she gave birth. The star explained that he was "trying to sculpt the perfect acoustic album" for almost a decade, when the series of events changed everything. “Writing songs is my therapy. It helps me make sense of my feelings. I wrote without thought of what the songs would be, I just wrote whatever tumbled out. “And in just over a week, I replaced a decade’s worth of work with my deepest darkest thoughts," he captioned. “Within the space of a month, my pregnant wife got told she had a tumour, with no route to treatment until after the birth. “My best friend Jamal [Edwards], a brother to me, died suddenly and I found myself standing in court defending my integrity and career as a songwriter. I was spiralling through fear, depression and anxiety. “I felt like I was drowning, head below the surface, looking up but not being able to break through for air". <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CpPY7qyI6XB/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CpPY7qyI6XB/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Ed Sheeran (@teddysphotos)</a> </div> </blockquote> The four-time Grammy award winner shared that this album was a "trapdoor" into his soul, and a way for him to make sense of everything he's been through. Sheeran announced the birth of his second daughter, Jupiter, in May of last year.Subtract will be released on the 5th of May 2023, through Asylum/Atlantic. Image: Getty

Caring

Tragedy strikes Ed Sheeran tour

Ed Sheeran’s touring partner and co-writer has suffered a major loss with the news of his teenage son’s sudden death. Ben Kweller, who opened for Sheeran on his 2019 tour, revealed his 16-year-old son, Dorian, was killed overnight. "There's no way that I can be typing this but I am….," Kweller began in a heartbreaking <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CpNSgQ5uXzd/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tribute shared on Instagram</a>. "Our son, Dorian Zev Kweller, was killed last night. He was only 16 and he was a true legend. Kindest, gentle soul, a friend to all. If you knew him, you know.” Kweller did not share any more information about the circumstances surrounding his son’s death, instead, he wrote about the short but brilliant life the 16-year-old aspiring musician lived. "We'll never get over him as long as we're here on earth. Please keep his spirit alive with your memories and the music he made: @reallyzev," the proud dad shared. "Dorian Zev wrote and recorded songs every day. A true poet from the day he started speaking. Only a few of his recordings were released but he was on a path and excited about his journey. He had so many plans!!! His first gig was in two weeks, at SXSW.” In the post, the grieving father also shared his last text message exchange with his son. "We're in complete shock and don't know what the future holds. Lizzy, Judah, and I have no idea how to deal with this disaster. Thank you for your prayers and support and we apologize if we are slow to respond to messages. 💔” Sheeran, who is currently touring Australia, counts Kweller as one of his good friends. In 2018, when the musician married his childhood sweetheart Cherry Seaborn in a secret ceremony, Kweller was one of the few invited and also performed at their wedding ceremony. Kweller also co-wrote Sheeran’s hit song Collide. Image credit: Instagram

News

All aboard Ed Sheeran's unusual new holiday home!

Ed Sheeran is the proud new owner of a $1.13 million antique train carriage. The British singer and his wife have splurged on the Victorian-era carriage located on a block in Romney Marsh Kent which overlooks the English Channel. The 31 year-old hitmaker and Cherry Seaborn, aged 30, have added the two-bedder to their impressive real estate portfolio. The carriage looks humble and is very small. The mattress abuts the front and back walls of one of the bedrooms - but it has been fitted with plenty of mod cons, and looks to be the couple's new beach house. Floors have underheating and it has been extended at the front and the rear. Sliding doors open onto pavers and windswept grass. The living room and kitchen, and bedrooms at the rear, are modern extensions to the original structure. In the antique carriage is a wood-burning fire and it has been kept true to its rustic roots throughout this middle section. The contemporary living area is open plan and the kitchen is new, L-shaped and small, and overlooks a windswept garden that backs onto the Channel. Even with all the modern day comforts and conveniences, this home is far less flashy than Sheeran’s main family address. He and his wife bought the carriage last year but the sale has only just come to light. Images: Domain

Real Estate

Ed Sheeran is now a father of two!

Ed Sheeran is now a father of two, dropping the news on social media that he and his wife Cherry Seaborn have had another baby. "Want to let you all know we've had another beautiful baby girl. We are both so in love with her, and over the moon to be a family of 4 x," he wrote alongside a photo of a pair of tiny white baby socks. <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CdwQFKRIYzi/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CdwQFKRIYzi/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Ed Sheeran (@teddysphotos)</a> </div> </blockquote> Sheeran and Seaborn, 30, already share daughter Lyra Antarctica, whom they welcomed in 2020. At the time, they announced the birth of their baby girl with a similar photo to this one, but with a different coloured blanket and pair of socks. Sheeran's announcement of his second child comes seven months after he and Lyra tested positive with COVID-19. The couple tied the knot in January 2019 in an intimate ceremony after their engagement one year prior. "The wedding party was more a celebration of us and our friends. I didn't want pictures getting out and I'm surprised they didn't," he explained. Image: Instagram

"I am unmoored": Ashley Judd's sweet tribute to her late mother

Ashley Judd has honoured her late mother in a heartwarming op-ed just a week after her death. Naomi Judd, one half of the duo The Judds, died at the age of 76 on April 30 following a battle with depression and mental illness. “My mama was an extraordinary parent under duress: She showed my sister and me the power of having a voice and using it, and there has been no greater lesson,” Ashley wrote in <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/voices/2022/05/06/ashley-judd-naomi-judd-mothers-day/96635010..." target="_blank" rel="noopener">USA Today</a>. “It wasn’t supposed to be this way. I was supposed to visit her on Sunday, to give her a box of old-fashioned candy, our family tradition. “We were supposed to have sweet delight in each others’ easy presence. Instead, I am unmoored. But my heart is not empty. It is replete with gratitude for what she left behind. Her nurture and tenderness, her music and memory.” Ashley and Wynonna teared up as they made an <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/entertainment/music/we-lost-our-beautiful-mother-ashley-judd-s-heartbreaking-speech" target="_blank" rel="noopener">emotional acceptance speech</a> at the Country Music Hall of Fame induction on the Monday following their mother’s passing. “I didn’t prepare anything tonight because I knew mum would probably talk the most,” Wynonna said. “I’m gonna make this fast, because my heart’s broken, and I feel so blessed. It’s a very strange dynamic, to be this broken and this blessed.” The sisters also quoted Psalm 23, a common hymn for funeral services. “My mama loved you so much and I’m sorry that she couldn’t hang on until today,” Ashley began. “Your esteem for her and your regard for her really penetrated her heart, and it was your affection for her that did keep her going in the last years, and please come see Pop,” she continued in reference to her stepfather and Naomi’s husband Larry Strickland. “While this is so much about the Judds as a duo, I want to take a moment to recognise my sister, a GOAT.” Wynonna then jumped in: “Though my heart is broken, I will continue to sing.” Naomi and daughter Wynonna, began singing together as a professional act in the early 1980s. They produced major hits loved by fans all over the world including "Mama He's Crazy" and "Love Can Build a Bridge”. Image: Getty

Relationships

Ed Sheeran releases music video filmed in Ukraine

UK singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran has released his latest track 2step, along with an emotional music video. The video for the song was filmed in Kyiv, Ukraine, just days before the deadly Russian invasion. Before the song starts, a written message from Sheeran appears on the screen in black and white. In it, the Grammy-winning singer explains he filmed the video in Kyiv before “the devastating acts of violence started.” “It was my first time visiting the country and I felt so welcomed...” he said. “Ukraine is a proud and resilient country and I’m grateful to have had the chance to film my video there.” “I stand with Ukraine, and will be donating my record royalties from YouTube streams of the video to the DEC’s [The Disasters Emergency Committee] Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal,” the singer added. The video shows Ed Sheeran walking through the quiet and peaceful streets of Kyiv, as he performs the song about the stress and struggles of his personal life. The track 2step is the latest from Sheeran’s album “=” (pronounced “equals”), which he released in 2021. Since the music video has been released, it has amassed over 9.5 million views. You can check out the video below. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Z_MvkyuOJgk" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> Image credits: Youtube

Music

Ed Sheeran wins huge legal case

In a high-profile trial, Ed Sheeran has clinched a victory in a copyright infringement case over his 2017 song Shape of You. The British singer, along with his two co-writers Johnny McDaid and Steve Mac, were accused of plagiarising Sami Chokri’s 2015 song Oh Why. In his ruling, the judge concluded that Sheeran “neither deliberately nor subconsciously” copied a phrase from Oh Why when writing Shape of You, as Sheeran emphasised during the trial. In a video statement <a href="https://twitter.com/edsheeran/status/1511631955238047751">posted to Twitter</a>, Sheeran said, “While we’re obviously happy with the result, I feel like claims like this are way too common now and have become a culture where a claim is made with the idea that a settlement will be cheaper than taking it to court. Even if there’s no base for the claim.” “It’s really damaging to the songwriting industry. There’s only so many notes and very few chords used in pop music. Coincidence is bound to happen if 60,000 songs are being released every day on Spotify.” He continued, “I don’t want to take anything away from the pain and hurt suffered by both sides of this case, but I just want to say that I’m not an entity. I’m not a corporation. I’m a human being. I’m a father. I’m a husband. I’m a son. Lawsuits are not a pleasant experience and I hope with this ruling it means in the future baseless claims like this can be avoided.” Chokri, who performs under the name Sami Switch, along with his co-writer, sued Sheeran over similarities in the songs in 2018. During the 11-day trial in London, Sheeran denied he “borrows” ideas from other recording artists, while saying he “always tried to be completely fair” when crediting his inspirations and contributors. In their testimony, Sheeran, McDaid and Mac all denied being aware of Oh Why prior to writing Shape Of You. Image credits: Getty Images

Music

Ed Sheeran joins concert for Ukraine relief

Ed Sheeran is the latest musician added to the lineup of a charity concert to help Ukraine. He joins the likes of Snow Patrol, Camila Cabello, Tom Odell, Becky Hill, Manic Street Preachers, Emeli Sande and many more, who will all be performing the fundraising concert in Birmingham. Proceeds from the concert will go to the Disasters Emergency Committee's Ukraine Humanitarian appeal, which is providing food, water, shelter and medical assistance to refugees in Ukraine and neighbouring countries. "I will be singing to try to help every human being forced to flee their home and in solidarity with those being racially discriminated against even within this humanitarian crisis," Emeli Sande said in a statement. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> 💙💛 <a href="https://twitter.com/Camila_Cabello?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Camila_Cabello</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/edsheeran?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@edsheeran</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/emelisande?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@emelisande</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/GregoryPorter?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GregoryPorter</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/snowpatrol?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@snowpatrol</a> are the first performers to be announced for Concert for Ukraine, a two hour fundraiser event raising money for the <a href="https://twitter.com/decappeal?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@decappeal</a> humanitarian appeal in Ukraine on Tuesday 29 March on ITV 🌻 <a href="https://t.co/TnoBCfWX3f">pic.twitter.com/TnoBCfWX3f</a> — ITV (@ITV) <a href="https://twitter.com/ITV/status/1505822111448842244?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 21, 2022</a></blockquote> "Nobody should be refused access to relief, aid and the right to cross the border to safety, and I'm pleased for the chance to support the DEC's appeal to help all people whose lives have been affected by the conflict." The concert will be hosted by Spice Girl Emma Bunton, alongside Marvin Humes and Roman Kemp on March 29th at the Resorts World Arena, Birmingham, United Kingdom. Another fundraiser concert will also be taking place in the UK at west London’s famous Shepherd’s Bush, with big name acts performing at A Night For Ukraine, with 100 percent of profits going towards the Disasters Emergency Committee‘s (DEC) Ukraine Humanitarian Fund. Image credits: Getty Images

Music

“The heart of that bloke was so big”: Ed Sheeran remembers Shane Warne

Ed Sheeran has paid tribute to his friend Shane Warne with a few classic Warnie memories, almost two weeks since he was found dead. The legendary cricketer, 52, died of natural causes on March 4 in a luxury villa on the Thailand holiday island of Koh Samui. Speaking to The Project, the British musician fondly recalled the moment they met in 2014, at Warnie’s Club 23 in Melbourne which closed down in 2019. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Ed Sheeran is coming back to Australia and he reveals to us why playing the MCG is top of his bucket list. For all the details on Ed’s huge Mathematics tour head to our website. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheProjectTV?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheProjectTV</a> <a href="https://t.co/uG2X6km92X">pic.twitter.com/uG2X6km92X</a> — The Project (@theprojecttv) <a href="https://twitter.com/theprojecttv/status/1504013507901243394?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2022</a></blockquote> “We met in 2014, when I was doing the Logies. He was staying at the hotel next to me, and do you remember he had that club at Crown?” Ed began. “He took me and my friends there, and that was like the first time I'd hung out with him. “Then - mate, he used to do some really amazing things. I've got some friends that are huge into cricket, and he just offered one day like, ‘Do you want me to take them to the nets at Lord's [in London]?’ “You guys know - the heart of that bloke was so big, and he's just such a lovely person inside and out. There's so many stories like that.” The following year, Ed was on his first Australian tour for Shape of You when he met up with Warnie again. “He took me in the nets at the MCG. He was bowling against my dad, and my dad was doing the hits and everything,” he recalled. “Then I sort of whispered to him, ‘Give him one proper Shane Warne ball’ - man, they fly don't they! They really fly.” Shane Warne's <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/health/caring/warnie-s-family-make-special-request-for-stadium-name-change" target="_blank" rel="noopener">memorial service</a> is due to be held at the MCG on March 30th. Image: Instagram

"It would've cracked him in the head!" Ed Sheeran's near miss with Elton John

Ed Sheeran has revealed the near miss he had with his friend Elton John while they were shooting the music video for their joint song Merry Christmas. Appearing on Apple Music’s <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPbqSs6Bwt8" target="_blank">Zane Lowe Show</a>, Sheeran recalled how he “almost killed” John with a heavy bell while the pair were filming. “Oh, mate. I almost killed him with a bell on the video,” Sheeran <a rel="noopener" href="https://celebrity.nine.com.au/latest/ed-sheeran-almost-killed-elton-john-filming-christmas-music-video/fdebb07d-ae6e-4b98-8099-cef46d9fd017" target="_blank">said</a> during the interview. “I’m dressed up as sort of sexy Santa Claus and I kick a present, but the present had a big metal bell on top of it. “I showed him the footage of it today because we slowed it down and the bell flew past his head and would’ve cracked him in the head. “Oh my God, the horror that went through my body when it was flying through the air.” <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CXJlwiXDfYi/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CXJlwiXDfYi/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Elton John (@eltonjohn)</a> </div> </blockquote> The I’m Still Standin’ singer also shared the clip on his social media account, with the caption, “Better luck next time, @teddysphotos 😂”. The festive video sees Sheen, 30, and John, 74, parody several famous Christmsa music videos, including Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas is You and Wham!’s Last Christmas. Since its release last week, Merry Christmas has topped the UK Big Top 40 list, marking John’s third Big Top 40 number one track this year. It is also the third holiday song Sheeran and John have written together. Image: @teddysphotos (Instagram)

Music

Mel Gibson called out by West Wing star in scathing op-ed

West Wing actor Joshua Malina has called out Mel Gibson and his employment in show business amid the controversial scandals surrounding the actor. Malina, who plays Will Bailey on the political drama, has questioned why Gibson is still employed in Hollywood despite his long history of alleged anti-Semitism, homophobia and bigotry. In a recent op-ed for The Atlantic titled <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2021/12/mel-gibson-anti-semitism/620873/" target="_blank">Cancel Mel Gibson</a>, Malina wondered why Hollywood's 'cancel culture' seemingly doesn't apply to Gibson. "Gibson is a well-known Jew-hater (anti-Semite is too mild). His prejudices are well documented," Malina wrote. "So my question is, what does a guy have to do these days to get put on Hollywood's no-fly list? I'm a character actor. I tend to take the jobs that come my way. But — and this hurts to write — you couldn't pay me enough to work with Mel Gibson." Mel Gibson has reportedly been cast in the upcoming John Wick prequel spin-off series titled The Continental, and is also rumoured to be in talks to direct Lethal Weapon 5. Malina continued, wondering when someone's ignorance and hatred outweighs their impressive resume. "Now, I love the Lethal Weapon movies (at least the first few). And Danny Glover's a gem," Malina continued. "But Gibson? Yes, he's a talented man. Many horrible people produce wonderful art. Put me down as an ardent fan of Roald Dahl, Pablo Picasso, and Edith Wharton; can't get enough of what they're selling." "But these three had the good taste to die. That makes it a lot easier to enjoy their output. Gibson lives. And Tinseltown need not employ him further." Joshua Malina goes on to say that the point of 'cancel culture' is to hold people accountable for their actions, but those in Hollywood often get a free pass because of their celebrity status. "If Gibson is welcomed back to direct the latest instalment of this beloved franchise, it may be time to stop publishing think pieces about the power of 'cancel culture,'" Malina wrote. "Because if he can continue to find big bucks and approbation in Hollywood, cancel culture simply does not exist." Image credits: Getty Images

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Mel Gibson called out by West Wing star in scathing op-ed