An Irish Ed Sheeran tribute act has come to the defense of the embattled British superstar, insisting that “he hasn’t done anything wrong” despite a week of intense global backlash.
Ed Sheeran has found himself at the center of a firestorm after US rapper Macklemore was removed as a support act from the singer’s The Loop tour. The removal followed Macklemore’s vocal support for Palestine during his set, a move that prompted a cascading protest from other artists. Irish acts, including Aaron Rowe and Beoga, have since pulled out of the tour in solidarity with the rapper. Songwriter Aaron Rowe explicitly stated that he “cannot stand by and allow billionaires” to silence political speech regarding the genocide in Gaza.
The fallout for Sheeran has been significant. Beyond the loss of support acts, the singer has faced condemnation from high-profile figures such as Liam Cunningham, Imelda May, and the group Kneecap. The public outcry has translated into tangible consequences: Sheeran has shed approximately 200,000 social media followers, and Classic Hits Radio confirmed it would cease broadcasting his music as of September 17.
While Sheeran has publicly claimed that the decision to drop Macklemore was forced upon him by promoters and venue owners, the explanation has done little to quell the scrutiny.
However, one person firmly in the singer’s corner is a prominent Irish tribute performer known as “Irish Ed.” Speaking to the Irish Mirror, he dismissed concerns that the controversy would harm his own tribute gigs, arguing that the negative reaction is disproportionate.
“I find he has a lot of support as well the last few days. A lot of people are backing him,” the tribute artist said. Having met Sheeran personally several years ago, he characterized the singer as a decent person who has been “backed into a corner.”
“He has a lot of crew there as well, that he has to look after. It’s not as simple as just going and canceling a whole tour,” he explained.
The tribute act also criticized Macklemore’s decision to use the platform for political messaging, suggesting that the rapper overstepped. “I think a musician should stick in his lane and just stick to what he’s good at,” he remarked. “There was a time and a place to do that. I think Macklemore could have done that online. He didn’t have to do that.”
Despite calls from groups like the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel for the tour to be canceled entirely, the tribute artist remains convinced that Sheeran’s massive fanbase will keep his career intact. “He has a huge fan base, and he hasn’t done anything wrong,” he reiterated, standing by the pop star amidst the ongoing international dispute.
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