The Ed Sheeran mural in Dunedin has been vandalised for the second time in a week – this time with dollar signs covering the musician’s eyes and a Star of David on his forehead.
Last Thursday morning, the work was vandalised on the back of a controversial string of events which followed after rapper Macklemore was removed from Sheeran’s tour for making pro-Palestinian comments while performing.
Before performing at the Philadelphia show which followed the heated week, Sheeran apologised and said his “heart has been broken” by the Israel-Hamas war and he had to make “difficult decisions”.
“I don’t want to disappoint fans, and I’ve never wanted to be an activist musician, but this has put me in the middle of an important and passionate argument about freedom of speech and the most complex political issue on the planet,” Sheeran said at Lincoln Financial Field.
While opening for Sheeran earlier this month at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium, Macklemore shouted "Free Palestine!" and told Palestinians they were "not forgotten".
"Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter's decision, it was not mine," Sheeran wrote in a lengthy Instagram post, adding that the rapper's contract was ended by the promoter, Messina Touring Group.
According to Sheeran, venues on the tour "communicated that they would pull the shows if he was still supporting".
Sheeran’s other opening acts resigned after Macklemore was dropped.
“My concerts have always been a safe space for everyone, and that matters hugely to me,” Sheeran said.
“This week, criticism was about something much more important and I’ve had to take and make difficult decisions and I have made mistakes, and I’m so, so sorry.”
The Bath St mural of the British singer was created in 2018 by artist Tyler Kennedy Stent before Sheeran played three shows at the Forsyth Barr Stadium.
Last Thursday morning, the words “Free Palestine” were written in large black lettering across the bottom of the mural.
“Ngā mihi nui to the person who wrote 'Free Palestine' on the mural,” Stent told RNZ following the incident.
He said the tag was a “welcome addition to the mural”.
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