Massive Attack, Garbage, and Waters Condemn Ed Sheeran Over Macklemore

Ed Sheeran is under fire from a trio of prominent musicians after he removed Macklemore from his upcoming stadium tour. The decision followed Macklemore’s statements in support of Palestine at two shows in September, which drew swift backlash from venue owners led by Robert Kraft. Sheeran later said the removal was made by promoters, not by him, and that he had tried to keep the rapper on the bill.

Artists respond with coordinated statements

Massive Attack, Garbage and Roger Waters each posted public rebukes on Instagram. Massive Attack condemned Sheeran’s perceived neutrality, insisting that "no artist should tolerate the censorship of another artist" and linking the situation to a broader fight against what they called Israel’s genocide in Gaza. The band highlighted its own history of activism, including a ban from Singapore after displaying a Palestinian flag and an arrest of member Robert Del Naja during a protest in London. Garbage echoed the sentiment, describing a shift in global awareness after "decades of Israeli persecution." In its statement the group accused Sheeran of siding with "apologist" attitudes and warned that "the normalization of an apartheid state will no longer be tolerated." The band also noted that several other tour openers have dropped out in solidarity with Macklemore. Roger Waters, a long‑time BDS supporter, posted a video that directly addressed Sheeran. He praised Macklemore as a person who "does the right thing" and called Sheeran a "prick" for the opposite. Waters’ clip reinforces the narrative that the music industry’s silence on the Israel‑Palestine issue is being challenged by a growing chorus of artists.

Sheeran’s stance and industry fallout

Sheeran’s camp has maintained that the lineup changes were orchestrated by the tour’s promoters and venue operators. He said he personally tried to find a way to keep Macklemore on the schedule but ultimately could not override the decisions made by the stadium owners. The incident has reignited debate about the role of artists in political disputes. The controversy underscores a widening split within the pop‑music world. While some acts continue to avoid overt political statements, others are using their platforms to support Palestinian causes, even at the risk of losing major tours. Observers say the Sheeran episode will likely influence how future tours handle similar political flashpoints.