Guitar Center launched a contest asking fans to upload videos to win a spot opening for Ed Sheeran at his Mexico City show. The contest page was flooded with trolling content, including wrestling butts, a meme featuring Invader Zim’s character Gir, and videos mocking Sheeran’s involvement in the conflict. Some entries linked to Gaza aid groups instead.
The contest, titled “Open for Legends,” was advertised with the tagline “You Could Open For Ed Sheeran.” It launched on September 14, the same day Macklemore announced he had been kicked off Sheeran’s tour for saying “Free Palestine” at the Loop Tour’s MetLife Stadium stop earlier this month. Participants over 18 with performance experience and a U.S. passport could submit by uploading videos to a playlist on Guitar Center’s website. The playlist has since been pulled down, but the trolling remains visible.
Sheeran’s Political Position
Sheeran has faced backlash since booting Macklemore from his tour at the request of billionaire stadium owner Robert Kraft. Macklemore had denounced Israel’s genocide in Gaza on stage, and Kraft acknowledged Macklemore’s challenge to match the rapper’s million-dollar donation to Gazan causes. Sheeran released a statement claiming he was not complicit in the conflict, but critics argue otherwise.
The irony of the contest is that it launched on the day Macklemore was removed. Fans responded by flooding the playlist with videos that ranged from crude jokes to serious political statements.
What Fans Submitted
The trolling took several forms. One entry featured a photo of a wrestler’s buttocks. Another showed Invader Zim’s character Gir dancing at “The Cum Zone.” Titles included “ed sheeran loves genocide and brown people getting killed.”
Some submissions were more constructive. Entries provided links to Palestinian aid organizations like Gaza Soup Kitchen, the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, and Doctors Without Borders. Those entries stood out amid the chaos.
“You Could Open For Ed Sheeran”
The tagline itself became a target for ridicule. Contestants used the opportunity to send messages about Sheeran’s perceived hypocrisy.
The Playlist’s Fate
Guitar Center pulled the playlist down after the flood of trolling content. The company did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The contest remains open for entries, though the playlist is no longer visible. Fans can still submit videos, but the public display of the trolling has disappeared.
How the Trolling Played Out
The contest drew attention precisely because it was a vehicle for protest. Sheeran has been criticized for dropping Macklemore over a political statement, and fans saw the contest as an easy way to make their own points. The mix of crude humor and serious activism shows how contested the situation is.
Here is a quick look at the range of entries:
- Wrestling butts — a photo of a wrestler’s buttocks submitted as a joke.
- Invader Zim’s Gir — the character dancing at “The Cum Zone.”
- Memes with titles mocking Sheeran’s involvement in the conflict.
- Links to Gaza Soup Kitchen, the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, and Doctors Without Borders.
What Happens Next
Guitar Center has removed the playlist, but the contest itself continues. Fans who want to enter can still submit videos, though they will not appear publicly.
The irony of the whole affair is that a contest meant to promote Sheeran ended up promoting everything except him. The company’s attempt to capitalize on the “Open for Legends” brand backfired spectacularly.
The lesson is simple: when a celebrity’s brand is damaged, giving fans a platform to speak is not always a good idea. Guitar Center learned that the hard way.
The contest is still live, but the damage is done. The playlist is gone, and the story of Sheeran’s Mexico City opener will now include a chapter about the fan who submitted a wrestler’s butt.
See the video the story is built around at The A.V. Club.
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