Pop star Ed Sheeran’s cousin, Jethro Sheeran, publicly branded the Grammy winner a “coward” and a “bad human” on Facebook amid an escalating tour controversy involving rapper Macklemore.
Family Feud Reignites Over Tour Controversy
The public attack from Jethro Sheeran brings years of private family tension back into the spotlight. According to the Daily Mail, the cousins were close during childhood holidays, writing and recording music together before Ed’s rise to global fame drove them apart.
The rift between the cousins previously centered around a 2010 track titled “Raise Em Up,” which appeared in the 2013 film “All Stars.” Jethro later released a remix featuring Ed’s face and name on the artwork to help fund his daughter Skyla Rain Sheeran’s budding music career. However, according to reports, lawyers from Warner Music threatened legal action unless Ed’s name and image were removed from the project, cementing a bitter estrangement.
Tour Backlash and Political Fallout
The family drama unfolds as Ed Sheeran manages a wider crisis surrounding his US Loop Tour. Rapper Macklemore performed two opening sets at MetLife Stadium on September 4 and 5, where he wore a keffiyeh and told crowds to “Free Palestine.” Following the performances, venues scheduled for subsequent dates allegedly threatened to cancel shows if the rapper remained on the bill. Macklemore was subsequently dropped from eight of the final ten tour dates.
The singer stated that he spent days trying to broker a compromise but could not override the venues holding the contracts. The fallout prompted other support acts—including Finneas, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe, and Beoga—to pull out of upcoming dates in solidarity with Macklemore. Public figures such as Lewis Hamilton, Greta Thunberg, and Paloma Faith voiced support for the rapper, while Pink distanced herself from the messaging.
Did you know? Ed Sheeran shed more than 200,000 Instagram followers within a single 24-hour period as the controversy and subsequent online backlash intensified across social media platforms.
Why Ed Sheeran Keeps Politics Off Stage
Addressing the controversy directly, Ed Sheeran explained why he maintains a strict boundary between his music and political commentary. According to verified reports, the singer stated that his audiences include young people and fans from diverse backgrounds who attend concerts seeking “unity, joy, escapism, love.” While describing himself as “appalled” by the suffering caused by the Israel-Palestine conflict, he emphasized that his professional platform is deliberately kept free of political speeches.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Macklemore dropped from Ed Sheeran’s US tour?
Macklemore was removed from the remaining tour dates after delivering pro-Palestinian speeches and wearing a keffiyeh during his performances at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, prompting venues to threaten show cancellations.
Did Ed Sheeran make the decision to drop Macklemore?
According to Ed Sheeran, the removal was the promoter’s decision, and he was unable to override venues that threatened to cancel upcoming shows if the rapper stayed on the bill.
Who is Jethro Sheeran?
Jethro Sheeran is Ed Sheeran’s 44-year-old cousin who recently criticized the pop star on Facebook, reviving a long-standing family feud.
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