Liam Cunningham took aim at Ed Sheeran after Macklemore’s removal from the singer’s Loop Tour. The Game of Thrones star questioned Sheeran’s neutral stance after Macklemore spoke publicly about Palestine.
The controversy erupted after Macklemore made pro-Palestinian comments during his September 4 performance. His removal then triggered a wider tour shakeup, with several supporting acts also walking away.
Liam Cunningham targeted Ed Sheeran’s neutrality after Macklemore was removed from the Loop Tour
Cunningham posted two pointed messages on X on September 14. “We know who Ed Sheeran is now,” the actor wrote in his first post. He followed with another message that appeared to challenge Sheeran’s position. “If you find yourself saying ‘I’m not taking sides’ during a genocide, you are,” he wrote. “You most definitely are.”
Sheeran had denied making the decision to remove Macklemore. According to PEOPLE, he said the promoter and stadium venues made the call after Macklemore’s comments. Macklemore had repeatedly said “Free Palestine” during his MetLife Stadium performance. He later addressed his removal on Instagram and defended his decision to speak publicly.
“If those words cost me the stage, while turning the conversation back to Palestine, then it was the most successful tour I’ve ever been on,” Macklemore wrote. Several other celebrities also criticized Sheeran. Wil Wheaton called him a “coward with no conviction” and accused him of prioritizing money over supporting Macklemore.
Children’s educator Ms. Rachel took a less personal approach. She argued that Sheeran had missed an opportunity to support Palestinian advocacy. “Ed Sheeran had an opportunity [to] show that we won’t be bullied into punishing people for supporting Palestine,” she wrote on Threads. She added, “A genocide is happening in Gaza. We all need to speak out against it.”
The fallout then spread beyond Macklemore. FINNEAS, Lukas Graham and Aaron Rowe withdrew from Sheeran’s remaining shows. Sheeran’s touring band Beoga also left, according to The Washington Post. FINNEAS wrote, “Artists must not be silenced when they speak for the oppressed.” Rowe also criticized the use of wealth and power to silence artists.
The tour controversy continued as Sheeran maintained that he wanted his shows to remain politically neutral.
