Johnny McDaid Defends Ed Sheeran Amidst Macklemore Tour Controversy

Johnny McDaid, a close friend and collaborator of Ed Sheeran, has publicly praised the singer, describing him as a "rare combination of genius and integrity." McDaid's remarks came as Sheeran faces criticism following the removal of rapper Macklemore from his "Loop Tour" after Macklemore made pro-Palestinian statements on stage.

McDaid, who received the BMI President's Award at the 2026 BMI London Awards, spoke about his deep personal and professional connection with Sheeran. "One of the people who's taught me most about myself as a writer and as a human is Ed Sheeran," McDaid stated. He referred to Sheeran as "more than best friends" and "brother, closer than blood."

Their creative partnership includes co-writing Sheeran's Grammy-winning hit "Shape of You," a song for which McDaid initially had reservations about certain lyrics but ultimately deferred to Sheeran's artistic vision. They have also collaborated on other major hits like "Photograph," "Galway Girl," "Bad Habits," and "Shivers."

Sheeran has been at the center of a significant backlash after Macklemore was dropped from his tour. This decision followed Macklemore's on-stage remarks. Subsequently, other opening acts, including Finneas, Lukas Graham, and Aaron Rowe, along with Sheeran's backing band Beoga, announced their departure from the tour in solidarity with Macklemore and Palestine.

Sheeran himself addressed the controversy during a performance in Philadelphia, reading from a statement and becoming emotional. He apologized to fans for bringing politics into the concert, a departure from his previous stance. "I have tried in my career not to be a political commentator of any kind because I want my music and shows to be about unity and not division, about humanity and not politics," Sheeran told the audience. However, he added, "this is a humanitarian issue and I cannot hide how I feel about it anymore."

He characterized the Hamas attacks of October 7 as "horrific" and described the situation in Gaza as "catastrophic and unjustifiable," expressing that his "heart has been broken by the scale of devastation and loss of civilian's lives, of children's lives." He also stated that the "systemic injustice we're seeing unfold in the West Bank cannot be overlooked."

Sheeran indicated that he was persuaded to continue the tour by the overwhelming response from fans, noting that 50,000 people had not abandoned him. He expressed gratitude for the continued support, stating, "The world is a scary place right now. America is a scary place right now. This gives hope. This gives hope."

Macklemore's removal from the tour was reportedly influenced by comments from US stadium owner Robert Kraft, who accused the rapper of "hate speech" and "only sharing selective information and ignoring the actions of Hamas." Kraft subsequently banned Macklemore from performing at Gillette Stadium, owned by his holding company.

During his return to the stage, Sheeran, visibly moved, stated he had "found out who his friends are" and reiterated that he "cannot hide how I feel... any more." He explained that while he never intended to be an "activist musician," the intense criticism necessitated "difficult decisions." He concluded by emphasizing the unifying power of his shows, stating, "My shows are about this... They are about people coming together that don't know each other, that have different beliefs. They're about unity. They're about love. They're about family."