Wednesday, September 16, 2026 - Roger Waters has publicly lashed out at Ed Sheeran amid the growing controversy surrounding Macklemore’s removal from Sheeran’s Loop Tour.
The Pink Floyd co-founder criticized Sheeran in a social-media video after Macklemore was dropped from the U.S. leg of the tour following his recent pro-Palestinian remarks onstage. Waters, who has long spoken publicly about the Israel-Palestine conflict, accused Sheeran of doing the wrong thing in his strongly worded message.
The dispute intensified after Sheeran said the decision to remove Macklemore was made by the tour’s promoters and venue owners, rather than by him personally.
Sheeran said he had spent the week trying to find a solution and had spoken with venues, promoters and activists, but the decision was ultimately final. Macklemore had been scheduled to perform on several remaining U.S. dates, but venue opposition led to his removal.
The fallout has now spread beyond Waters, Sheeran and Macklemore, with several supporting acts withdrawing from the tour in solidarity with Macklemore. Finneas, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe and Beoga have all announced their departures, adding fresh pressure to an already heated dispute over artistic expression and political speech at major concerts.
As the controversy continues to unfold, Sheeran’s tour faces a rapidly changing lineup while the debate over whether performers should be free to use major stages for political advocacy grows louder.
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