Ed Sheeran support acts quit after Macklemore ‘Free Palestine’ row - The Latest

In a recent episode of The Latest from The Guardian, host Lucy Hough discusses the controversy surrounding Ed Sheeran's global tour after rapper Macklemore made a political statement in support of Palestine during a performance. This occurred on September 4th at Sheeran's New Jersey show, where Macklemore stood up front and shouted, 'free Palestine,' which was met with cheer from fans.

Following this, Macklemore's performance of his song 'Hins Hall,' featuring images of destruction in Gaza, led to significant backlash, resulting in him being pulled from the remaining US tour dates. The group Stop Anti-Semitism criticized Macklemore, accusing him of using the platform to project anti-Israel propaganda, which prompted intervention from tour organizers.

The episode further explores Macklemore's past issues with accusations of anti-Semitism and the apparent dissonance in Sheeran's stance on political issues. While Macklemore called out Sheeran for being apolitical amid current events, Sheeran's own past supportive statements regarding Ukraine have resurfaced, raising questions about his stance on global issues. The discussion touches on the larger implications for Sheeran's reputation and the risks that celebrities face in expressing political opinions, especially in today's climate where public sentiment towards various global issues is rapidly changing.