Ed Sheeran and Macklemore’s Controversy Reminds Us Why Celebs Being Apolitical Doesn’t Work Anymore

PHOTO: (Patrick Cristiano; Timlukask / Wikimedia Commons)

This article represents the writer’s opinions.

With every day that passes in 2026, the internet continues to prove its ruthlessness, and musicians Ed Sheeran and Macklemore are just two of the latest celebrities in the crosshairs.

Macklemore was removed from the opening act of Sheeran’s tour for political statements he made on the Israel-Hamas war. This situation has proven that watching what you say matters more than ever, but so does speaking up about injustices around the world.

The world isn’t like it was 10 years ago: freedom of speech and freedom of the press are under threat, clickbait headlines feel like they’re everywhere and the rise of generative AI makes it harder to decipher between what’s real and what’s fake.

It’s hard not to feel frustrated and drained. There are times when it feels like there’s no room for nuance anymore, especially online, which is the biggest problem with the public response throughout the Sheeran and Macklemore controversy.

Let’s get into it.

The breakdown

Here’s a quick rundown, in case you haven’t been keeping up with the situation.

It all started Sept. 14, when Macklemore was dropped from Sheeran’s Loop Tour because of a pro-Palestine speech he gave at a Sept. 4 show.

In his statement, he said, “To all of my Jewish brothers and sisters: criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide in no way is a criticism of you.”

He continued, saying “My message is for peace; love for all human beings to be treated with dignity, respect, and equality. So, I say free Palestine. I say free Lebanon. I say free Cuba. I say free Congo, free Sudan, free all people in America living in fear over this terrorist organization, ICE. None of us will be free until we are all free.”

Macklemore went on to perform a protest song of his called “Hind’s Hall.” Released May 6, 2024, “Hind’s Hall,” is a song he wrote in support of the 2024 college campus demonstrations that called for a ceasefire in the Gaza war, and condemned U.S. military aid to Israel. Its title is a direct reference to the renaming of Columbia’s Hamilton Hall by protesters after a 6-year-old Palestinian girl named Hind Rajab was killed in Gaza.

Following online backlash for his political statements and accusations of antisemitism, Sheeran released a statement on Sept. 15 saying that venues and promoters on his upcoming tour dates had threatened to pull his shows entirely if Macklemore stayed on as a supporting act. He added in the statement that he spoke with the venues “at length to try and build a bridge.”

One of those people he spoke with was Robert Kraft, the owner of Gillette Stadium where Sheeran was scheduled to perform on the weekend of Sept. 25.

In the statement, Sheeran also noted that he isn’t complicit and has his own personal views on the conflict, but there’s a reason he doesn’t use his professional platform for politics: his audience includes young children and people of all backgrounds.

That same day, his other opening touring acts, including Finneas, Lukas Graham and Aaron Rowe, dropped out, on top of his touring band, Beoga.

Sheeran next performed on Sept. 19, saying on stage in Philadelphia, “I’ve tried in my career not to be a political commentator of any kind because I want my music and shows to be about unity, not division, and about humanity, not politics. But this is a humanitarian issue, and I cannot hide how I feel about it anymore.”

“What happened in Israel and at the Nova Music Festival on Oct. 7 was horrific, and compounded centuries of Jewish pain,” he said to the crowd. “What is happening in Gaza is catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate. My heart has broken by the scale of devastation and loss of civilians’ lives, of children’s lives and the systemic injustice we’re seeing unfold in the West Bank cannot be overlooked.”

He admitted he did not know enough, but that he was speaking with the venue owners to work out how to make a contribution to help victims. At this point, Macklemore had already donated $1 million of his tour earnings from Sheeran’s tour to humanitarian organizations providing aid to Palestinians in need, urging Kraft and Sheeran to match it.

On Thursday, Sept. 24, Macklemore announced a Free Palestine Tour featuring special guests where he’ll raise more money for Palestinian aid. Friday, Sept. 25, Sheeran’s shows at Kraft’s Gillette Stadium were cancelled for the weekend due to “bad weather.”

The aftermath

Essentially, Sheeran took a stance. To not have one. 

Before speaking at the Philadelphia show, he was facing heat in his comment sections from both fans and friends.

Even now, after breaking down in tears on stage, he’s still getting a lot of hate from people on the internet, as people believe his apology to be performative, but I have a feeling he’ll be able to recover from this.

Why? It’s not a hunch, but because he stopped being apolitical. 

Whether people believe his apology to be authentic or not, Sheeran has drawn a line in the sand with where he stands on Gaza. It may turn some people off, but being apolitical and silent until you are pressured not to can do that.

Since this controversy, public opinion is mixed. His ticket sales are down by nearly 50% as of Sept. 18 while Mackelmore’s new tour immediately sold out its three dates in Dublin, Paris and London. 

Now, Sheeran has not only spoken about the injustice in Gaza, but he’s also donated $2 million in humanitarian aid to Palestinians, and most importantly, aligned himself and his values with his friends again.

Maybe some venues will cancel his shows, maybe they won’t.

It’s a risk he’s taking, regardless. You know what happened when he opted to be silent? All of his opening acts dropped him.

Does being apolitical work anymore?

When Mackelmore announced his Free Palestine tour, he said, “Being apolitical during a genocide doesn’t work anymore. People are asking artists to show up, educate themselves and be in community. To use the stage for more than entertainment.”

That’s why, when looking at the nuance in the situation, I can personally appreciate Sheeran admitting he doesn’t know enough. That’s also why I think he’ll come out of this situation just fine. People can call his apology performative, but I don’t really think that’s the point.

However, there was definitely hypocrisy that needs to be acknowledged.