U2 Weigh In on Tour Controversy Involving Ed Sheeran and Macklemore

U2 have defended Macklemore’s right to speak out after he was removed from Ed Sheeran’s U.S. tour, while cautioning against blaming Sheeran.

“We totally support Macklemore’s right as an artist to say what he wanted to say,” the Edge said in an interview with BBC News. “I don’t think Ed should be vilified,” he added, acknowledging the difficult position Sheeran faced. The guitarist also praised the artists who left the tour in solidarity, describing the dispute as a matter of free expression.

Drummer Larry Mullen Jr. said, “Artists can choose whether they want to be politically active or not. It’s a human right. But we as a band will fight for the right to speak your mind as long as it doesn’t incite violence. And even if we disagree with it or don’t like it, nobody has a right – no billionaire, no promoter, no owner has the right to censor anybody. They will definitely not be censoring us ever.”

Macklemore was dropped from the North American leg of Sheeran’s Loop Tour in September, after performing two opening sets at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. There, he said “Free Palestine,” spoke about Gaza and the West Bank, and performed his protest song “Hind’s Hall.” Promoter Messina Touring Group said venues on the remaining dates would not allow the shows to go ahead with Macklemore on the bill.

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft confirmed that he barred the rapper from Gillette Stadium, citing Macklemore’s comments and what Kraft called “a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery.”

Sheeran said the decision was the promoter’s. Several acts left the tour in response, including Finneas, Lukas Graham and Irish folk band Beoga, which had performed with Sheeran each night. Sheeran later opened a Philadelphia show with an apology for “mistakes” in his handling of the situation.

Macklemore has since performed three sold-out Free Palestine benefit concerts in Dublin, Paris and London. Guests included Hozier, Kneecap and Beoga, and the shows raised money for organizations supporting Palestinians.

U2 will release Carnaval De Luz, their 16th studio album and first full-length collection of new material in nine years, on Nov. 13. The album closes with “Torn,” a duet with the late Dolly Parton that the band says was her last recorded vocal performance.