Roger Waters has publicly criticized Ed Sheeran after Macklemore was removed from Sheeran’s tour following controversy over the rapper’s pro-Palestinian comments.
The Pink Floyd musician addressed the situation in a video posted on X and Instagram. Waters criticized Sheeran directly and called him a “prick.” Sheeran later said the promoter and venues, rather than him personally, made the decision involving Macklemore.
Roger Waters tears into Ed Sheeran over the controversy surrounding Macklemore’s removal from his tour
Waters opened his video with a graphic that read, “Ed Who?”
He then described what he viewed as two different kinds of people. Waters placed Macklemore among those he believed had done the right thing and criticized Sheeran for what he considered the opposite response.
Waters referred to people in that category as “pricks” and included Sheeran before ending his message with, “goodbye.”
The Macklemore tour controversy began after the rapper performed at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey and expressed support for Palestinians. During the September 4 show, Macklemore also said, “Free Palestine.”
Macklemore later said Robert Kraft, owner of Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, objected to his appearance at Sheeran’s upcoming concert there. According to Macklemore, Kraft contacted Sheeran, who then informed him that he could not perform at the venue.
Kraft addressed the decision in a statement given to TMZ.
“Gillette Stadium has a longstanding commitment to providing a welcoming environment for all guests and ensuring that events held at our venue do not provide a platform for hate speech,” he said.
Sheeran later denied personally making the decision to remove Macklemore. He said the promoter and venues made the decision after venues threatened to cancel shows if Macklemore remained on the tour. Sheeran also said he was “appalled by the conflict between Israel and Palestine.”
The situation continued to affect the Ed Sheeran tour after Finneas, Aaron Rowe, Lukas Graham and Irish band Beoga also withdrew from upcoming dates in solidarity with Macklemore.
Sheeran’s next scheduled performance was set for September 19 in Philadelphia. At the time of the reports, organizers had not announced who would open the show.
Sheeran explained that the promoter and venues had made the decision. Meanwhile, Waters continued to criticize the singer over the dispute. His comments added another public reaction to the controversy surrounding Macklemore’s removal from the tour.
