Producer Jack Antonoff Criticizes Ed Sheeran Over Macklemore Tour Controversy

Music producer Jack Antonoff publicly rebuked Ed Sheeran for his response to the removal of rapper Macklemore from the Loop Tour after Macklemore expressed support for Palestine. In an interview with The Guardian, Antonoff said that supporting Macklemore’s call to “free Palestine” is a “deeply human thing to say” and suggested that Sheeran could have cancelled the entire tour and performed free shows to raise money, rather than allowing a billionaire promoter to dictate terms.

Sheeran had previously stated he was “not complicit” in Macklemore’s dismissal. After the incident, all four of Sheeran’s supporting acts left the tour in solidarity with Macklemore, and the singer’s social-media following reportedly fell by tens of thousands.

During a concert in Philadelphia, Sheeran addressed the controversy, describing the October 7 attacks in Israel as “horrific” and the situation in Gaza as “catastrophic, unjustifiable and disproportionate.” He also expressed personal disappointment, saying his friends and family had distanced themselves from him during what he called “one of the worst weeks of my life.”

Macklemore later issued a statement saying Sheeran’s “apolitical stance” was being challenged in an unprecedented way. The Independent has sought comment from Sheeran’s representatives.