By GB News (World News) | Created at 2026-09-16 21:40:43 | Updated at 2026-09-16 22:25:45
47 minutes ago
Paloma Faith has said Ed Sheeran should cancel the remainder of his Loop Tour "ideologically" as the fallout from Macklemore's removal continues to engulf the singer.
Ms Faith waded into the controversy after Macklemore was dropped from the US leg of Mr Sheeran's tour following his pro-Palestinian remarks during a performance at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium.
The decision has prompted a string of artists to withdraw from upcoming shows, including Finneas, Aaron Rowe and Lukas Graham, while Mr Sheeran's backing band Beoga have also walked away.
Speaking to Channel 4 News, Ms Faith was asked whether she believed Mr Sheeran should now cancel the rest of the tour.
Paloma Faith has said Ed Sheeran should cancel the remainder of his tour for 'ideological' reasons
CHANNEL 4 NEWS
"Ideologically, I think that would be the right thing to do," she said.
However, the 45-year-old acknowledged the potentially significant legal and financial consequences of such a decision.
"I don't know if he can insurance-wise. I don't really know the small print of that," she explained.
"It's much more nuanced in a legal sense."
Ed Sheeran has insisted Macklemore's removal from his Loop Tour was not his decision
Ms Faith reiterated cancelling would be the right decision "ideologically" but questioned what impact doing so could have on the hundreds of people involved in the tour.
"I don't know what the implications of that would be to, sort of, financially to his team or whether it could bankrupt him," she said.
When the interviewer raised the prospect of Mr Sheeran taking to the stage without his backing band, Ms Faith expressed sympathy for the Shape of You hitmaker.
"I'm sure he feels mortified because it's been really difficult for him," she said.
"I did a concert with Ed for Ukraine... so that wasn't apolitical."
Paloma Faith questions Ed Sheeran's political neutrality after Macklemore was dropped from Sheeran's US tour over pro-Palestine comments. pic.twitter.com/8XGbn1OwBc
"I think that he probably felt that remaining ambiguous was... in some way, a kindness. But I don't think in this instance it has been."
Ms Faith stressed she did not consider Mr Sheeran a "bad person", but delivered a damning assessment of how the controversy had been handled.
"I definitely don't think he's a bad person. But I also think it was really gravely mishandled. It was a mistake," she said.
"And I think he probably should come out and say it was a mistake."
Ms Faith also questioned Mr Sheeran's decision to avoid publicly taking a political position, pointing to a previous benefit concert the pair performed to raise money for Ukraine.
"I did play a concert with Ed Sheeran to raise money for Ukraine, so he wasn't apolitical by doing that," she said.
"And I don't really understand why one felt more political than the other."
The Photograph singer broke his silence on the controversy on Tuesday, insisting Macklemore's removal had been the decision of the tour's promoter and venues rather than his own.
"Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter's decision; it was not mine," Mr Sheeran said, explaining that he had spent the previous week attempting to find a resolution.
The 35-year-old said he had his own views on the Israel-Gaza conflict but did not generally use his concerts as a political platform, arguing his audiences include children from diverse backgrounds who "do not expect a political forum".
Ms Faith took particular issue with Mr Sheeran's reference to children.
"That comment I don't like," she told Channel 4 News.
"When he said that, it really upset me because there's so many children in Palestine that are faced with unimaginable things and shouldn't be."
Ms Faith added: "I say free Palestine to my children every night. I think children should be exposed to politics."
The row began after Macklemore used his opening set at MetLife Stadium earlier this month to declare "Free Palestine" and express solidarity with people in Gaza and the West Bank.
The rapper, who has been an outspoken supporter of the Palestinian cause, was due to perform at eight of Mr Sheeran's remaining ten US stadium shows.
Tour promoter Messina Touring Group subsequently said venues had informed organisers they would not stage concerts with Macklemore on the bill, leaving the tour facing the prospect of cancellations affecting hundreds of thousands of ticket holders.
Macklemore has claimed New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft rallied other stadium owners against his continued involvement.
Mr Kraft has confirmed Macklemore would not perform at his Gillette Stadium but has not publicly addressed the rapper's allegation he coordinated with other venue owners.
Mr Sheeran has maintained he tried to broker a compromise and has rejected suggestions he was responsible for Macklemore's removal.
Despite the escalating fallout and departures from the tour, the singer has indicated the shows will continue, with the US leg scheduled to resume in Philadelphia on September 19.
