‘Off our playlist!’: Fly FM pulls Ed Sheeran from airwaves, backs artists speaking up for Palestine

Fly FM says it has removed Ed Sheeran from its playlist while voicing support for Palestine and artists who speak up for the cause. — Picture from Facebook/Fly FM

By Malay Mail

First Published: Friday, 18 Sep 2026 5:07 PM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 18 — Fly FM has removed Ed Sheeran from its playlist, declaring “some things matter more than music” in a Facebook post expressing support for Palestine and artists who speak up for the cause.

The Malaysian radio station made the statement in a post that referenced US rapper Macklemore being dropped from Sheeran’s Loop Tour after speaking up for Palestine, with an accompanying graphic featuring Sheeran carrying the words “Off our playlist! Some things matter more than music”; the post had garnered 115 likes at the time of writing.

Fly FM said: “You've probably seen the news about Macklemore being dropped from the Loop Tour after speaking up for Palestine.

“We want to be clear about where we stand.

“Fly FM stands with the Palestinian people. And we stand with artists who use their voice for what they believe in.”

The station added: “Music is supposed to give people a voice. Not take it away.

“We stand with Palestine. We stand with artists who speak up for them.”

The post attracted supportive comments, including one from Ahmad Wazir Aiman thanking Fly FM for taking a stand and saying that remaining neutral while people were being killed amounted to enabling such acts.

Another commenter, Manal Ismail Al-Masry, wrote: “The irish radio stations gonna love this.”

Macklemore was removed from the remaining US dates of Sheeran’s Loop Tour after making pro-Palestinian remarks during a performance at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey earlier this month.

The rapper said he was dropped following discussions with Sheeran, while tour promoter Messina Touring Group said venues on upcoming dates had notified it that they would not allow concerts featuring Macklemore.

Sheeran later said the decision was made by the tour promoter after venue owners raised concerns, while Macklemore has continued to publicly support Palestine.

Macklemore has also pledged to donate his US$1 million (RM4.08 million) earnings from the tour to six organisations supporting Palestinians and called on New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft to match the donation.