Ed Sheeran is reportedly feeling ‘exploited and used’ by celebrities who have criticised him, as sources say he feels the commentors were ‘enjoying the publicity at his expense’
Ed Sheeran is reportedly struggling with feelings of exploitation after the Macklemore fallout. The singer has garnered a rush of controversy in recent weeks after Macklemore was removed from his tour line-up over ‘Free Palestine’ comments.
After Macklemore’s removal was revealed to the public, a huge number of celebrities came out in support of the rapper and to criticise what they felt was a weak stance from Sheeran. Though Sheeran released a statement insisting he was “not complicit” in the ongoing atrocities committed in Gaza and that his silence didn’t indicate indifference, his other opening acts for his tour, such as Finneas, pulled out, as did his band.
Charlotte Church also recently said Sheeran had chosen “consumerism and capitalism over doing the right thing”, while Paloma Faith criticised the singer for saying he tried to be apolitical because some of his fans are children. She said: “It really upset me because there are so many children in Palestine who are faced with unimaginable things and shouldn’t be. I say ‘free Palestine’ to my children every night. I think children should be exposed to politics.”
Sources told the Mail that Sheeran was upset by the comments made by some celebrities, as he felt he had been “exploited and used” by people who were “enjoying the publicity at his expense”.
They added: “He’s completely exhausted emotionally. Everyone involved is utterly drained. And every time he tries to make the situation better another celebrity comes out of the woodwork and criticises him.”
Amid the fallout, Sheeran returned to the stage in Philadelphia and teared up on stage as he shared that he had felt abandoned by his friends. “Everyone’s telling me to cancel and I’m feeling all of my friends and family and people I know abandoned me,” he said. “I look at the end of the week and I see 50,000 people who haven’t abandoned me. People will say what they want, but I am doing this for you. I love you. I love this.”
Though his wife, Cherry, and his parents are standing by him, Sheeran’s cousin Jethro has spoken out against him, saying: “I’m ashamed of my cousin Ed. He’s a coward.”
The source shared with the Mail that the whole situation is something Sheeran “will never get over”. They insisted the backlash “hit him like a train” as he “tries to keep politics out of his singing”.
This is not the first time it has been suggested that Sheeran is an apolitical musician. In his own statement, posted to social media, he said: “I do not use my professional platform for politics – my audience includes young people, often children, of all backgrounds. Those who come to my shows do not expect a political forum.”
But there have been multiple instances in the past where Sheeran has taken a political stance, using his platform and his music to do so. In March 2022, he publicly backed Ukraine after the Russian invasion and performed at Concert for Ukraine, a charity concert raising money for humanitarian aid in the area. At the time, he said: “I just wanted to say to all Ukrainians, I love you, I stand with you, and I’m so proud to be playing this fundraising event next week.”
He also took part in the Beautiful Resistance campaign in 2019, which was coordinated by Love Music Hate Racism and aimed to challenge racism in the UK. Two years later, Sheeran signed an open letter to the US Senate, urging them to pass the Equality Act, which would protect LGBTQIA people from discrimination.
The Mirror went to Sheeran’s representatives for comment.
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