Ed Sheeran's Friend Criticizes Singer's Handling of Macklemore Controversy

Jordan Stephens, a longtime friend of singer Ed Sheeran, has publicly criticized Sheeran's response to the controversy surrounding rapper Macklemore's removal from Sheeran's US tour dates. Stephens, a member of the group Rizzle Kicks, stated that Sheeran's attempts to address the situation have worsened with each public utterance.

Macklemore was removed from the remaining dates of Sheeran's tour after declaring "Free Palestine" during a performance at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium on September 4. Multiple venues reportedly objected to his continued involvement. New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, whose group owns Gillette Stadium, cited Macklemore's past use of what Kraft described as antisemitic rhetoric. Macklemore has denied accusations of antisemitism.

Sheeran maintained that the decision to remove Macklemore was made by the promoter, not by him, and that he had tried to mediate the dispute. However, other artists on the tour withdrew in solidarity with Macklemore, intensifying the scrutiny on Sheeran.

Stephens, who has known Sheeran for over 15 years, expressed his feelings on his "Miss Me?" podcast. He noted that he had privately contacted Sheeran during the controversy, feeling conflicted about discussing their friendship publicly. "It's very clear that in spite of the fact that Ed is a very kind person and has helped many of these artists with their career, it was unacceptable how he chose to respond," Stephens said.

He specifically took issue with Sheeran's use of the term "conflict" in a statement and his public addresses, which Stephens described as "appalling." "Every time he speaks on stage, it gets worse," Stephens commented, adding that Sheeran's teleprompter speech was "a bad start" and that the singer's attempt to frame the situation as "incredibly complex" was inaccurate.

Stephens argued that Sheeran did not need to take a definitive stance on the Israel-Palestine issue initially. "All he had to do was have a backbone and say, 'I'm not going to carry on playing if you're taking one of my mates off.' Why have you booked Macklemore if you're not willing to stand by him?" Stephens questioned.

Sheeran himself addressed the controversy in Philadelphia, stating he never intended to be an "activist musician" but that the situation had drawn him into a debate on free speech and the Israel-Palestine conflict. He condemned the October 7 attacks on Israel as "horrific" and described the situation in Gaza as "catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate," emphasizing that his concerts should be a "safe space for everyone."

Stephens acknowledged the personal toll the backlash may have had on Sheeran, despite his success. "Obviously, it's my understanding that he's a human being and money doesn't provide you with emotional resilience," he said, referencing what he understood to be a "hellish week" for the singer. However, Stephens also asserted that Sheeran's position offered him the power to take a stronger stance, stating, "You do have power in that position."