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Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters has waded into the Macklemore and Ed Sheeran drama with some choice words for the Shape of You singer.
The legendary musician shared a clip titled ‘Ed Who?’, along with his thoughts on the recent tour drama.
The Downtown rapper, 43, was opening for Ed, 35, on his US leg of the Loop Tour when he spoke out in support of Palestinians.
He claimed that Robert Kraft – CEO of Kraft Group, which owns Gillette Stadium – had called Ed to block Macklemore from performing at the stadium. Macklemore was removed from the tour, followed by all of Ed’s other supporting acts dropping out of the shows.
‘I just have a little message for you. There are two kinds of people in this world. Some people do the right thing. That rapper, Macklemore, would be one of those people,’ he said.
‘And there are people who are p***ks, like you, who do the wrong thing. Goodbye.’
Sheeran responded on Monday with a lengthy statement and denied being ‘complicit’, adding that he does not want to let fans down.
Other celebrities have come out in support of Macklemore, with comedian Jim Norton cancelling his upcoming shows at Gillette Stadium and Lincoln Financial Field Stadium in ‘solidarity’.
Paloma Faith said: ‘You are a rare and important voice; thank you for existing. This is so articulate and so powerful. You are a hero xxx.”
Irish rap group Kneecap shared a photo with Macklemore on their social media and said: ‘Free Palestine. They can never silence the truth.’
Climate change activist Greta Thunberg also shared support for Macklemore.
Singer Kehlani added: ‘A LOT of the venues / owners are rallied together this way. honored to know you brother. adore you. behind you!!!!’
Rolling Stone reported that the venues that allegedly objected included: Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia; Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts; Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia; Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis; Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina; AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas; and Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.
While performing in New York City earlier this month, he shouted ‘Free Palestine’ as well as singing protest song Hinds Hall while Gaza images were displayed.
Macklemore said he understood Ed’s position but wasn’t willing to stop sharing his political message, which he added he’d been saying for several years now without issues.
‘I hope this isn’t the end of my relationship with Ed,’ the rapper continued. ‘Thirteen years of friendship doesn’t disappear because of one painful disagreement.’
He added that he does believe ‘antisemitism is real’ and to Ed, that his door ‘will always be open to continuing that conversation’.
Macklemore concluded: ‘I didn’t need 10 shows from Ed. I needed two. Two chances to stand in from of 90,000 people and say words that somehow became too dangerous to say.’
In his own statement, Ed said he was ‘appalled’ by the suffering in both Israel and Palestine, adding: ‘There are too many wars across the world causing immeasurable pain, none of which should be tolerated.’
He confirmed Macklemore’s claim that he was contacted by Kraft but that it was the promoter’s decision to remove the rapper from the tour.
Ed also stated: ‘I would never let down the fans who had made plans, nor would I abandon the touring crew and the other support acts and musicians who rely on me for work and to make a living.’
‘I am not complicit. 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. Nor does it mean I don’t support causes in my own, personal way,’ the singer added.
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