Gender debate rages over Ed Sheeran and Beyonce's Global Citizen Festival outfits
![Ed Sheeran and Beyoncé performance looks couldn’t have been more different. [Photo: Getty]](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/122VFrcFjDT8vzGW.vt1Ew--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD02Nzc-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/homerun/feed_manager_auto_publish_494/662a1e4c707ce7416537fa4f760040b2)
Last night Ed Sheeran and Beyoncé performed a duet at the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 in Johannesburg South, South Africa.
While the performance went well, the internet was soon in uproar about the world-famous music artists’ outfits – which couldn’t have been more different.
While Beyonce wore a bright pink ruffle dress by Ashi Studio, Ed performed in his signature look: jeans, trainers and two layered baggy T-shirts.
Twitter users claimed the contrast showed the gender double standard in the music industry.
I get this.
Even tho I appreciate good musicians in normal clothes the double standard is ridiculous… what is expected of female vs male artists. https://t.co/xLEcNXVuX7— Fat in Public (@garlicmeg) December 4, 2018
This photo is v v v v representative of what we expect from men and women at the top of their game, isn’t it? https://t.co/cfeLw8n1aI
— Daniel (@sillyolddaniel) December 4, 2018
Ed Sheeran is a 27 year old man the fact we’ve enabled him to feel it’s ok to dress like this at all, let alone next to Beyoncé really boils my piss pic.twitter.com/Q6XqgTFuvQ
— shon faye. (@shonfaye) December 4, 2018
Others came to Ed’s rescue, claiming the outfits were simply to do with the stars’ different celebrity images – and nothing to do with gender.
It ain’t that deep, Beyoncé likes showing off her outfits, always has, while Ed Sheeran is a casual guy who wears casual outfits no matter the circumstance, quit making everything a gender issue in our society it’s the reason there are so many issues in the first place
— Lee (@lee2525rickard) December 4, 2018
Nobody is EXPECTING a woman to dress like that. Beyoncé chooses to because she has gave herself that image. Ed Sheeran is being himself and not conforming to “standards” .. surely that’s the better of the two??? I hate people pic.twitter.com/0nFhvH3zne
— Kato (@alsoknownaskato) December 4, 2018
While others claimed it didn’t matter one bit what Ed wore.
let him wear whatever he wants. He’s not doing anyone any harm. https://t.co/XTU1bbdJ8M
— Naomigalloway (@mattebitch) December 4, 2018
One person brilliantly mocked the whole debate, Photoshopping that infamous Ezra Miller coat on to the picture of Ed and Beyoncé.
Hey everyone, not to worry I fixed it. You can sleep easy #EdSheeran #Beyonce pic.twitter.com/m5Qi2VWxFp
— Dave Hannan (@DrSausageThumb) December 4, 2018
As for Beyoncé, it seems she wasn’t bothered by the outfit at all – but was much more concerned with Ed hitting the right notes during the performance.
The way Beyonce opened her eyes when he messed up that note 😭 pic.twitter.com/9X42s4SRJb
— KARREUCHE WALLY (@eloenzeeo) December 3, 2018
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