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Roger Waters lashes out at Ed Sheeran over Macklemore's removal from tour
Roger Waters has waded into the row between Ed Sheeran and Macklemore, calling the Shape of You singer a "p****" in a video posted to social media on Tuesday.
The Pink Floyd co-founder, long known for his outspoken support of Palestine, shared a clip in which he split the world into two types of people. "There are two kinds of people in this world," he said. "Some people do the right thing. That rapper, Macklemore, would be one of those people." He then turned his attention to Sheeran, adding, "And there are people who are p***ks, like you, who do the wrong thing. Goodbye."
The comments follow Macklemore's removal from Sheeran's Loop Tour after he used his opening slot to voice support for Palestine at two shows in New Jersey earlier this month. The 43-year-old rapper had told crowds that people in Gaza and the West Bank "have not been forgotten" and called for freedom for "every human being walking on this earth."
Macklemore has said he was informed that Robert Kraft, the CEO of the Kraft Group which owns Gillette Stadium, contacted Sheeran to have him pulled from the bill. He was subsequently dropped from the tour, and every other supporting act followed him out the door.
Sheeran issued a lengthy statement on Monday rejecting the idea that he had acted against Macklemore's wishes. He said the decision to remove the rapper came from the tour's promoter rather than from him personally, since Macklemore's contract sat with the promoter and not with Sheeran directly.
"I am not complicit," Sheeran wrote. "I have my personal views on this devastating conflict. Just because I choose not to speak publicly, it doesn't mean I don't have them, and it doesn't mean I don't care." He added that he did not want to abandon "the touring crew and the other support acts and musicians who rely on me for work."
Sheeran has said he respects Macklemore's willingness to speak out but feels his own approach — keeping the stage as neutral ground — serves a similar goal of peace.
The fallout has cost Sheeran several members of his touring line-up. Finneas, Aaron Rowe and Lukas Graham all withdrew from upcoming dates in solidarity with Macklemore, as did his longtime backing band Beoga, though the Irish folk group said their friendship with Sheeran remains intact.
The dispute has drawn in figures well beyond the tour itself. Kneecap posted a photo with Macklemore in support, while Greta Thunberg and singer Kehlani both offered public backing. Paloma Faith called Macklemore "a rare and important voice," and comedian Jim Norton cancelled his own shows at two of the stadiums on Sheeran's route in solidarity.
Not everyone has sided with the rapper. Pink reshared a post accusing him of being anti-Israel, and an Israeli-American Council petition reportedly urged Sheeran to remove Macklemore from the bill in the first place.
UK culture secretary Lisa Nandy defended Sheeran on LBC, saying she had "enormous sympathy" for the position he found himself in and describing him as one of Britain's most successful and well-liked artists. She said she understood why some fans want music to remain a space away from politics.
Macklemore, for his part, said he understood why Sheeran acted as he did but was not prepared to drop his message, which he said he had been delivering at shows for years without incident. He also said he believes "antisemitism is real" and that his door remains open to Sheeran.
"I didn't need 10 shows from Ed," Macklemore said. "I needed two. Two chances to stand in front of 90,000 people and say words that somehow became too dangerous to say."
Sheeran's tour is due to resume on 19 September at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, with no replacement support acts yet confirmed.