Bob Geldof defends “good man” Ed Sheeran, says he “really admires Macklemore and the guys who walked” amid

Bob Geldof has defended Ed Sheeran amid the ongoing controversy surrounding Macklemore being dropped from the singer’s ‘Loop’ tour over pro-Palestine comments.

• READ MORE: Bob Geldof on the ‘Live Aid’ musical and why “the ‘Rock ‘N’ Roll Age’ is over”.

The Boomtown Rats frontman has weighed in on the row, arguing that artists have the right to decide whether they want to use their platform to speak on political issues, while also praising Macklemore and the musicians who subsequently withdrew from Sheeran’s tour.

He continued: “I wouldn’t expect The Rolling Stones to get up and go on about Gaza, you just wouldn’t. Why? Because it’s not their thing, although I’m quite sure that Mick Jagger has an opinion on it.”.

Gelfof did, however, reserve praise for those who took a stand, adding: “I really admire Macklemore and the guys who walked, because it’s a hard ask. They are making a big quid for the first time in their lives, y’know, and he just said, ‘No, mate’.”.

He instead directed his criticism towards Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft and the tour’s promoters.

The comments come after Sheeran returned to the stage in Philadelphia on Saturday (September 19) and admitted making “mistakes” over the Macklemore row.

Speaking to the crowd at Lincoln Financial Field, Sheeran said the fallout had made him question whether he wanted “to be an artist at all”.

Sheeran also said he had never intended to be “an activist musician”, but that the controversy had placed him at the centre of “an important and passionate argument about freedom of speech”.

Turning to Gaza, he added: “I’ve tried in my career to not be a political commentator of any kind because I want my music and shows to be about unity, not division, about humanity, not politics.

Sheeran described the Hamas-led attack at the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023 as “horrific”, before saying that what was happening in Gaza was “catastrophic, unjustifiable, and disproportionate”.

He also said he was “speaking to people across the spectrum” about making a humanitarian contribution.

During the same concert, Sheeran revealed that he had removed the usual B-stage from the show because he was “afraid of what might happen” if he stood in the middle of the crowd.

🎥| Ed getting emotional tonight on stage while thanking the crowd for the support ❤️‍🩹.

Geldof’s defence of Sheeran follows similar comments from former support act Aaron Rowe, who said that anger over the situation should instead be aimed at “the likes of Robert Kraft”.

Rowe, who was among the musicians to withdraw from the tour, acknowledged that Sheeran’s initial statement “could have been a lot better” and maintained that Macklemore should not have been removed.

However, he added: “All he has inside of him is kindness. That is who Ed Sheeran is. And yes, like every other human being he makes fucking mistakes.”.

Macklemore foi dispensado depois de fazer um discurso apaixonado de “Free Palestine” durante suas apresentações de apoio no MetLife Stadium em New Jersey, onde ele também executou sua faixa de protesto ‘Hind’s Hall’ junto com imagens da Gaza.

He subsequently faced calls for his removal from figures including Pink and the Israeli American Council.

Kraft later said he found Macklemore’s comments “deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community”. Sheeran has maintained that the final decision to remove the rapper was made by promoter Messina Touring Group after a number of venues objected to Macklemore appearing.

The move prompted FINNEAS, Lukas Graham, Rowe and Beoga to withdraw from the tour, while Sheeran’s backing musicians also pulled out.

I didn't know if I would have things thrown at me. I didn't know if people would be angry at me… I took the B stage out because I was afraid of what might happen if I stood in the middle." pic.twitter.com/6Qik3P5AbM.

Geldof’s comments come despite him having previously spoken forcefully about the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Last year, he called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a “liar” and accused Israeli forces of lying about the starvation crisis.

Days earlier, he had hit out at the “abysmal” starvation of children in Gaza, telling the Israeli public: “Your government and your army seem to be out of control.”.

Others have continued to weigh in on the dispute. In an interview with NME published today (September 21), Maruja said they hoped the controversy would redirect attention “back to what is actually going on in Palestine”, adding that the situation “isn’t about Macklemore and Ed Sheeran”.

Frontman Joe Carroll added: “You get misled that you have to pick a side, but this is a genocide. There shouldn’t be any ‘picking a side’, it’s just basic human morality.”.

The world's defining voice in music and pop culture: breaking what's new and what's next since 1952.

When you purchase through affiliate links on NME.com, you may contribute to our site through commissions. Learn More.

NME Networks, a part of Caldecott Music Group. All rights reserved.