Roger Waters blasts Ed Sheeran as a 'prick' after Macklemore vanishes

Ed Sheeran’s 2026 *Loop* tour faced a storm of backlash after rapper Macklemore was pulled from the lineup for his pro‑Palestinian remarks. The British Pink Floyd legend, Roger Waters, took to X to denounce Sheeran, calling him a “prick” and accusing him of putting hate speech above artistic freedom.

The controversy sparked when Macklemore shouted “Free Palestine” at a MetLife Stadium concert in New Jersey. He claimed that Robert Kraft, owner of Gillette Stadium, forced his exit by threatening to cancel Sheeran’s shows at other venues.

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## Background & Context

Macklemore, best known for the 2012 hit “Thrift Shop,” has long positioned himself as a socially conscious artist. In 2025 he released *Redemption*, an album that explicitly addressed political and humanitarian issues, positioning him as a leading voice in the indie‑rap scene.

His opening set at MetLife Stadium was seen by many as a continuation of that activism.

The venue itself—owned by Kraft who also owns the New England Patriots—has a public policy that rejects any form of “hate speech” or political messaging that could jeopardize its reputation as a family‑friendly environment.

In the phone call that Macklemore later leaked, Kraft explained that Gillette Stadium “has a longstanding commitment to providing a welcoming environment for all guests and ensuring that events held at our venue do not provide a platform for hate speech.” The decision to drop Macklemore was reportedly made by the promoter on behalf of Kraft, who threatened to pull Sheeran’s remaining dates in other cities if Macklemore continued to perform.

Sheeran’s *Loop* tour has been a cultural juggernaut, drawing over 2.5 million fans in its first three months. The lineup also included Finneas, Aaron Rowe, and Lukas Graham—all rising pop‑singer‑songwriters who had previously collaborated with Sheeran on studio projects.

After Macklemore’s removal, the three acts announced their departure from the tour in a joint statement, .”

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## Fan Reaction

The fan community erupted across social media platforms. Supporters of Macklemore posted memes and videos applauding his stand, while others expressed outrage at Sheeran’s perceived complicity.

One user on X wrote, “When your biggest artist deflects a political stance, it’s not just about the music—it’s about who we’re allowed to talk to.” In contrast, a segment of Sheeran fans argued that the artist was simply following venue guidelines and that the conversation had been hijacked.

The *Loop* tour's official merch store reported a 12 % spike in sales immediately after the controversy began, suggesting that many fans were buying merchandise either out of solidarity with Sheeran or as a statement against censorship.

Ticket sales for the September 19 Philadelphia show dipped slightly, but overall revenue from the tour remains robust.

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## Industry Impact

The incident has forced venue operators and promoters to revisit their policies on political content. Several stadiums, including MetLife and Fenway Park, have released statements reaffirming their stance that artists may not use their platforms for political advocacy.

Meanwhile, some ticket‑resale marketplaces have begun adding filters that flag events with “political” labels, potentially limiting resales for shows where performers have spoken out.

From a business perspective, the *Loop* tour’s sponsors—ranging from PepsiCo to Spotify—issued general statements about supporting freedom of expression but stopped short of taking sides.

This neutrality underscores a broader trend in the music industry: artists are increasingly expected to balance their public personas with corporate brand alignment.

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## What People Are Saying

In a viral X thread, Waters launched into a scathing critique of Sheeran. He began with a graphic that read “Ed Who?” before saying, “There are 2 types of people in this world. First, there are those who do the right thing, like the rapper Macklemore.

Then there are sadly others who are pricks like Ed.” The clip ended with a simple “goodbye.”

Sheeran’s official statement on Tuesday clarified that he had no role in Macklemore’s removal, emphasizing that the decision was “strictly made by the promoter, who threatened to yank his shows at other venues during his 2026 *Loop* tour.” He also added that he was “appalled by the conflict between Israel and Palestine,” indicating that personal political views are a separate matter from venue policy enforcement.

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## What Happens Next

The fallout has left Sheeran’s upcoming Philadelphia concert on September 19 in doubt regarding its opening act. Finneas, Aaron Rowe, and Lukas Graham have all exited the tour in support of Macklemore, and no replacement has been announced.

The industry is watching closely to see whether the tour will continue as planned or if new performers will step in.

Waters’ condemnation adds a new dimension to the dispute, highlighting the clash between artistic expression and venue policies.

Whether Sheeran will navigate these tensions as his *Loop* tour progresses remains uncertain, but the conversation has already reshaped how artists approach controversial topics and how promoters manage their public image.

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