Several internet users are taking issue with Ed Sheeran’s recent statement about Macklemore being dropped from his tour over his pro-Palestine remarks.
Macklemore, who called for a "Free Palestine" during his opening set at Ed’s MetLife Stadium show on Sept. 4, claimed in a 12-page Instagram statement this week, “[Ed] told me that the words ‘Free Palestine’ and the image of the Palestinian flag were hurtful to a lot of people he spoke with. I told him that if those words were more offensive than tens of thousands of Palestinian children being killed by Israel, then there was a fundamental disconnect between where those people stood and where I stood. But he couldn’t get past his public facing, ‘I don’t take sides.’ And I get why people don’t.”
Ed later responded in part, “I am appalled by the conflict between Israel and Palestine. The suffering and pain caused on both sides is a human tragedy. There are too many wars across the world causing immeasurable pain, none of which should be tolerated.”
“After Macklemore’s performances at my New Jersey shows, venues on my upcoming tour dates communicated that they would pull the shows if he was still supporting,” he wrote. “I was informed that this stance was based on how Macklemore conveyed part of his message during his performance, rather than on everything that was said. I spoke with the venues at length all week to try and build a bridge… I was also involved in direct talks with promoters along with activists on both sides to try and find a mutual resolution for all, but the venue's and promoter’s decision was final.”
“I am not complicit. I have my personal views on this devastating conflict. Just because I choose not to speak publicly, it doesn't mean I don't have them, and it doesn't mean I don't care. There is a reason I do not use my professional platform for politics – my audience includes young people, often children, of all backgrounds. Those who come to my shows do not expect a political forum,” he said.
Amid growing backlash against Ed’s "neutrality," several people are questioning Ed’s claim that he doesn’t use his "professional platform for politics," given that he has a history of using his stardom to raise awareness for politically salient causes — from publicly campaigning to signing important letters.
Back in 2017, he publicly supported UK Member of Parliament Jeremy Corbyn, who was then the leader of the Labour Party. And while he said that he generally didn’t want to mix his political views with his music, he explicitly told the Sunday Times, “I love Corbyn. I love everything Corbyn is about.”
He endorsed the Labour Party again in the 2024 UK general election, while memorably signing an open letter to ex-prime minister Theresa May opposing Brexit in 2018.
But perhaps most pointedly, Ed publicly expressed solidarity and performed at a fundraising concert for Ukraine in 2022, following Russia's full-scale invasion.
Ed proudly told Ukrainian Band Antytila, who first asked him via TikTok to perform at Concert for Ukraine, “To all Ukrainians, I love you, I stand with you, and I’m so proud to be playing this fundraising event next week,” before joining singers like Camila Cabello and Emeli Sandé for the concert, which raised more than $17 million for the Disasters Emergency Committee's Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.
Later opening up about the fundraiser, Ed said, “Everyone kind of just wants to do their part… It just so happens musicians can do something, and it’s nice to do something that’s gonna raise awareness and raise money.”
Going on to recall shooting the music video for his song “2step” in Kyiv, Ukraine, Ed said of his decision to perform at the fundraiser, “I felt like I wanted to do something. I literally just shot the music video in Kyiv three months ago… It was an amazing experience. I loved being there; we were there for about a week. So yeah, I just wanted to come and do something rather than not doing anything.”
As well as on the “2step” remix, the proceeds of which went to Ukrainian humanitarian charity Music Saves UA, Ed later collaborated with Antytila on the song “Yours Eternally” with Irish rock band U2, which was released earlier this year. The band’s vocalist, Bono, said that the song was inspired by the “resilience of Ukrainians.”
With all of this in mind, several people — including Palestinian singer-songwriter Saint Levant — have called out Ed’s recent claim that he doesn’t use his platform for politics. “It’s the bare face lying,” one X user wrote, while someone else described Ed as a “hypocrite.”
Saint Levant also resurfaced a photo of Ed holding up a Ukrainian flag with singer Jamala at the aforementioned fundraiser concert in 2022, and wrote, “mr i don’t do politics.”
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