Ed Sheeran's Cousin Seeks Reconciliation Amid Family Feud Over Alleged Music Theft
Jethro Sheeran expresses a desire to mend ties with his famous cousin, stating he is willing to forgive and forget after nearly a decade of estrangement.
Ed Sheeran's cousin, Jethro Sheeran, has publicly stated his willingness to reconcile with the Grammy-winning singer, despite a bitter family feud that has lasted nearly a decade. The dispute centers on Jethro's accusation that Ed Sheeran "stole" his music and that his music label, Warner Music, threatened legal action against him.
Jethro, who performs under the stage name Alonestar, detailed fond childhood memories of a close bond with Ed, recalling shared holidays in the Republic of Ireland and long hours spent in studios together. He described protecting Ed from bullies and teaching him martial arts during their youth. Jethro also reminisced about Ed's artistic talent, noting a painting Ed created of his daughter, Skyla, which earned him an A grade.
Their relationship soured more than ten years ago when Warner Music ordered Jethro to remove Ed's name and image from a remix of their collaborative song, "Raise Em Up," originally recorded in 2010. In 2024, Jethro accused Ed of enabling this threat as a personal vendetta.
The rift resurfaced recently when Jethro publicly criticized Ed following the controversy surrounding Macklemore being dropped as a support act from Ed's tour. While Ed stated it was a promoters' decision, Jethro believes Ed was involved, calling his cousin a "coward" and asserting that he "screwed me over."
In response, Ed acknowledged the public comments from his relative, stating, "I haven't spoken to this family member in a very long time." He has an estimated net worth of $400 million, while Jethro has achieved success as an independent artist with over 100 million streams.
Despite his anger, Jethro claims his outbursts stem from hurt and a feeling that Ed threatened his livelihood. "He stole music from me, and we haven't spoken for seven or eight years," Jethro told The Mail on Sunday. "He was essentially taking food out of my daughter's mouth."
Reflecting on the situation, Jethro expressed a desire for peace within the Sheeran family. "It would be good for our family to bring peace," he said. "I would make up with him, and we could say sorry to each other. I'm more than happy to move on."