Church's Accusation in Cardiff
During a Cardiff concert on Sunday, Charlotte Church criticised Ed Sheeran for prioritising consumerism and capitalism instead of acting ethically, after his friend and support act Macklemore was dropped from the US tour. Church noted that Sheeran has earned vast sums and commands a huge audience, giving him a powerful platform to make a genuine difference, yet he opted not to use it that way. She told the crowd that Sheeran was being observed, repeating the line with her band, and encouraged everyone to chant free Palestine.[S1]
Church, who has long voiced backing for Palestinians, also pushed back against the belief that musicians ought to avoid political matters. She argued that politics is life, and used an expletive to reject the suggestion that artists should remain uninvolved. She has joined pro-Palestinian protests and has strongly opposed the government's ban on Palestine Action. According to her, the conflict has transformed her profoundly.[S1]
Macklemore's Removal and Sheeran's Response
The tour descended into turmoil when Macklemore declared free Palestine from the stage. Following a major backlash, which included pressure from the owners of venues where shows were booked, the rapper was taken off the tour. Soon after, Sheeran's remaining support acts left in solidarity. Macklemore said Robert Kraft, CEO of the Kraft Group, which owns Gillette Stadium, phoned Sheeran directly to tell him he could not perform there. Sheeran later stated he would not engage in a public argument about the Gaza war and that the promoter had made the decision to remove Macklemore.[S1]
At his Philadelphia show on Saturday, Sheeran spoke about the controversy, describing the situation in Gaza as catastrophic and unjustifiable. He offered fans an apology, explaining that he had faced and made tough choices, that he was erring, and that he was deeply sorry. He also said he wanted his music and performances to centre on unity and humanity rather than politics. That Saturday, Sheeran grew emotional, revealing he had been uncertain whether the tour would continue and whether he still wished to be an artist following the criticism directed at him.[S1]
Criticism and Upcoming Show
Among the criticism was a Saturday Night Live UK sketch aired only hours before, portraying the singer as refusing to pick a side as a war erupted between humans and AI robots. Cast member Annabel Marlow, playing Sheeran, said he avoided taking sides and did not want to upset any fans, human or robot, noting that many of his tickets are purchased by scalping bots and that in conflicts, staying silent can sometimes be the bravest choice. Meanwhile, Nadiya Hussain of The Great British Bake Off shared a widely seen video in which therapist Megan Cooper accused Sheeran of shedding white tears and acting the victim. Sheeran is scheduled to perform next on Friday 25 September at Kraft's Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts.[S1]
