Ed Sheeran Backlash Explodes as Ms. Rachel, Hannah Einbinder and More Slam Singer After Macklemore Dropped From Tour: ‘Silence During a Genocide Is Not Neutral’

Macklemore’s removal from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour following his on-stage pro-Palestine remarks has ignited a firestorm of criticism from Hollywood figures and political leaders. Hannah Einbinder, the Hacks actress celebrated for her biting political humor, posted a scathing Instagram Story on Tuesday aimed at Sheeran. Playing on their shared ginger heritage, she wrote: “Ed Sheeran i say this as a ginger. i hope you get a REALLY bad sun burn. the kind on the back of your entire body where it hurts to lie down or walk or sit.” Her jab added a personal edge to the growing backlash.

Other prominent voices joined the fray. Rachel Griffin Accurso, better known as Ms. Rachel, the YouTube children’s entertainer, took to Instagram on Monday to condemn Sheeran. She argued that he “had an opportunity [to] show that we won’t be bullied into punishing people for supporting Palestine. Instead he caved to people who refuse to accept what the world knows. A genocide is happening in Gaza. We all need to speak out against it.” She continued: “If more than 20,000 white children were killed in another part of the world, everyone would be shouting about it at their concerts. Treating some children’s lives as less worthy of outrage is racist. Silence during a genocide is not neutral.” Marissa Bode, a star of Wicked who uses a wheelchair, chimed in via TikTok: “Ed Sheeran, my legs may not work like they used to before, but at least I have a fucking spine. Free Palestine, bitch!”

Sen. Bernie Sanders, the independent from Vermont and former presidential hopeful, targeted New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft on X, whom Macklemore partially blamed for his ouster. Sanders wrote: “In the United States of America, billionaire stadium owners should not be able to silence artists because they speak out on political issues. Today it is the genocide in Gaza. What’s next? If they can silence one artist, they can silence anyone.” Sanders, a vocal critic of Israeli military actions, has consistently advocated for tying U.S. aid to Israel to human rights benchmarks. His remarks underscore a broader debate about corporate influence over artistic expression, echoing past controversies such as the Dixie Chicks’ blacklisting after criticizing the Iraq War.

The uproar traces back to Sept. 4, when Macklemore declared “Free Palestine” during his set at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The comment made headlines, and he was dropped from Sheeran’s Loop Tour on Sept. 14. That same day, Macklemore shared a detailed Instagram statement. He explained that amid the media frenzy over Pink and his MetLife remarks, “Ed told me that Robert Kraft called him. We were scheduled to play Gillette Stadium later this month, which is owned by the Kraft Group. Ed told me that Kraft said I would not be allowed to perform in his stadium. Ed also told me that Kraft had rallied some of the other stadium owners and collectively they gave him an ultimatum: if Macklemore stays on the tour, you will not be allowed to play in our venues.” He added: “Ed was in a fucked up position. He knew it. His typical apolitical stance was being challenged in a way it never had been before. He told me that the words ‘Free Palestine’ and the image of the Palestinian flag were hurtful to a lot of people he spoke with. I told him that if those words were more offensive than tens of thousands of Palestinian children being killed by Israel, then there was a fundamental disconnect between where those people stood and where I stood. But he couldn’t get past his public facing, ‘I don’t take sides.’” Kraft, a longtime philanthropist and founder of the Kraft Group, has previously faced scrutiny for his political donations and his staunch support of Israel.

On Sept. 15, Sheeran issued his own response, stating he had spoken with venue owners “at length all week to try and build a bridge” after Macklemore’s comments. He insisted that dropping Macklemore was “the promoter’s decision, it was not mine.” He added: “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.” Despite his explanation, openers Finneas, Aaron Rowe, Lukas Graham, and Irish band Beoga all exited the tour after Macklemore’s removal. Finneas, a Grammy-winning producer and Billie Eilish’s brother, has been outspoken on political issues, including climate activism, making his departure particularly notable.

On Wednesday, Macklemore announced he would donate the $1 million net earnings from the Loop Tour to organizations aiding the Palestinian people. He wrote on Instagram: “With everything that has happened over the last 48 hours, I want to bring the conversation back to where it belongs: to the Palestinian people who are still being killed, still living under military occupation, and still fighting for their freedom. I will be donating the entire $1 million of my net earnings from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour to six organizations working directly to support the Palestinian people. And I invite Robert Kraft to match my donation. Whatever we disagree about, perhaps we can agree on this: Palestinian lives are worth protecting. A Palestinian life is no less valuable than any other life on this earth.”

Shortly after Macklemore’s pledge, Kraft responded with a statement saying he and Sheeran would each donate $2 million to the Palestinian cause. Posted on the Gillette Stadium X account, the statement read: “I have dedicated much of my life to building bridges between all people. I believe deeply that all lives are worth protecting. Earlier today, before Macklemore challenged me to match his donation, Ed called me and asked me to commit $2 million to match his donation to aid in the region to fight this humanitarian crisis. Ed now plans to reach out to other venue owners and our goal is to continue to work together to build bridges.” The exchange marks a rare moment of public alignment between the two sides, though the broader tensions over artistic freedom and political speech remain unresolved.