Singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran found himself addressing more than just music during his recent Loop Tour stop at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Taking to the stage, the Grammy Award winner briefly acknowledged the harsh remarks directed at him by his estranged cousin, Jethro Sheeran. Jethro had taken to social media and various interviews to blast the singer following the high-profile removal of rapper Macklemore from the tour over “Free Palestine” remarks.
Addressing the crowd directly, Sheeran told the audience, “You might have seen [my relative] recently on social media,” while letting concertgoers connect the dots without directly naming him. The pop star explicitly noted that he had not spoken to his relative in a very long time, distancing himself from the public criticism. Jethro’s social media attacks had labeled the singer “malicious” and a “coward” for failing to publicly comment on the ongoing humanitarian crisis after Macklemore was dropped from the lineup.
The family friction comes on the heels of intense tour turmoil, which previously saw supporting acts pull out and widespread public debate regarding artists speaking out on global politics. As Sheeran continues pressing forward with his North American dates, the unexpected personal drama highlights just how deeply external political events have bled into the singer’s professional and personal life.
