Ed Sheeran dropped by radio station in latest blow to singer over Macklemore tour controversy

A radio station has announced it will no longer play music by Ed Sheeran, the latest blow to the singer amid the ongoing controversy after Macklemore was removed from his tour.

The row began when Macklemore said that he had been removed from the singer’s Loop tour after he made pro-Palestine comments during a show in New Jersey earlier this month.

Following the US rapper’s exit, all other artists scheduled to appear on the tour decided to also drop out in solidarity with Macklemore.

Ed Sheeran’s music has been dropped by an Irish radio station

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Classic Hits Radio in Ireland said that the Galway Girl singer will no longer be featured on the show for the “foreseeable future”, in response to “reaction from our listeners”.

Dave Kelly, group programme director at Bay Broadcasting, which runs the station, said: “Our decision to remove Ed Sheeran’s music from the Classic Hits Radio playlist has been carefully considered.

“It is not intended as a personal judgment on Ed Sheeran, and we acknowledge his own explanation of the circumstances surrounding recent events.

“As an independent Irish-owned radio station, however, we believe it is important to listen to our audience and to stand alongside Irish artists who have made what is undoubtedly a significant professional decision based on their own convictions.

Macklemore said that he had been removed from the singer’s Loop tour after he made pro-Palestine comments

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“Ultimately, our position is a simple one. We believe in peace, humanity and respect, and in the right of people and artists to express and act upon their sincerely held views.

“In light of the strength of feeling expressed by our listeners and the decisions taken by Irish artists involved in the tour, we believe removing Ed Sheeran’s music from our playlist is the appropriate decision for Classic Hits Radio at this time.”

Sheeran has said the decision to drop Macklemore from his tour was made by promoters and venue owners, though defended his choice to stay poltically neurtral.

In an Instagram statement, he said he was “appalled by the conflict between Israel and Palestine", and described the "suffering and pain caused on both sides" as a human tragedy.

He said that Macklemore asked to join the tour last year. “I agreed, because I respect him as an artist”.

Sheeran said that he allowed the Thrift Shop singer to perform a set list of his choosing, “as with all my support acts”.

In a two-minute speech on September 4 at the MetLife stadium in New Jersey, the 43-year-old told the crowd that he wanted the people of Gaza and “the occupied West Bank” to know “we have not forgotten about them”.

The rapper has now donated his one million-dollar (£747,328) tour net earnings to charities supporting Palestinian people

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The following day, at his second appearance at the MetLife stadium, he reiterated his previous message with a direct address to Jewish members in the audience.

“Criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide in no way is a criticism of you. My message is for peace, love; for all human beings to be treated with dignity, respect and equality,” he said.

His comments prompted owners of subsequent stadium tour venues – including Robert Kraft, the billionaire owner of the New England Patriots and a prominent supporter of and donor to Israel – to call for his removal.

Robert Kraft, the billionaire owner of the New England Patriots, called for his removal

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Doubling down on his decision, Kraft, who is Jewish, blasted the rapper’s “Free Palestine” comments and said his venue would not “provide a platform for hate speech”.

Irish singer Aaron Rowe, Finneas, who is Billie Eilish’s brother, and Danish singer Lukas Graham, as well as Sheeran’s backing band Beoga, have all dropped out of the tour, sharing messages of support to Macklemore as they announced their withdrawal.

The rapper has now donated his one million-dollar (£747,328) tour net earnings to charities supporting Palestinian people, and challenged Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft, who reportedly called for his removal from the tour, to match his donation.

He said in a post on Instagram: “With everything that has happened over the last 48 hours, I want to bring the conversation back to where it belongs: to the Palestinian people who are still being killed, still living under military occupation, and still fighting for their freedom.

Finneas, who is Billie Eilish’s brother, also dropped out of the tour as he expressed support for Macklemore

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“I will be donating the entire one million (dollars) of my net earnings from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour to six organisations working directly to support the Palestinian people.”

Addressing Kraft, he added that “whatever we disagree about, perhaps we can agree on this, Palestinian lives are worth protecting, a Palestinian life is no less valuable than any other life on this earth”.

The businessman has since responded saying Sheeran had asked him to match his two million-dollar donation before Macklemore, whose real name is Ben Haggerty, announced his pledge.

Kraft said in a statement on Instagram: “I have dedicated much of my life to building bridges between all people. I believe deeply that all lives are worth protecting.

“Earlier today, before Macklemore challenged me to match his donation, Ed called me and asked me to commit two million to match his donation to aid in the region to fight this humanitarian crisis.

“Ed now plans to reach out to other venue owners and our goal is to continue to work together to build bridges.

“In addition, I’d like the people who are speaking in support of the Palestinian people to know that for decades, I have supported efforts that create opportunity for Palestinians and have brought young Palestinians and Israelis together to build businesses, create jobs and forge relationships.”

Sheeran’s next performance is scheduled for September 19 at the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, where Graham and Rowe had been due to open for him.

He has 17 dates still left on the tour across North and South America, with the final show scheduled for December 11 in Mexico City.