‘Ed who?’: Pink Floyd legend Roger Waters unleashes a fiery attack against Ed Sheeran. Then he explains why he won’t back down
'Goodbye.'
It is hard to watch a career trajectory shift so abruptly, but that is exactly what is happening to Ed Sheeran right now. The singer is currently navigating a massive PR nightmare following the dismissal of Macklemore from his U.S. Loop Tour, and the industry backlash is proving to be relentless. The trouble started when tour venues demanded Macklemore be dropped after he used his opening sets to advocate for Palestine and show imagery of the destruction caused by the genocide in Gaza.
The situation exploded on September 15, 2026, when Pink Floyd legend Roger Waters took to Instagram to share his unfiltered thoughts. With the words “Ed Who?” displayed on the screen, Waters didn’t hold back. Rolling Stone reports that he called Sheeran a “little prick” and told him he had done the “wrong thing” by allowing the rapper to be pushed off the tour. Waters made it clear where he stands, contrasting Macklemore’s actions with those of the tour’s headliner.
“There’s two kinds of people in this world,” Waters said. “There’s people who do the right thing, that rapper Macklemore would be one of those people, and there’s people, many of them sadly little ff… – excuse me I nearly used the F-word then – pricks like you who do the wrong thing. Goodbye.”
The decision to drop Macklemore came from promoter Messina Touring Group after pressure by Robert Kraft
Messina claimed that venues threatened to cancel the shows if the rapper remained on the lineup, which would have impacted hundreds of thousands of fans. Sheeran said he held direct talks with promoters and activists to try to find a resolution. He specifically pointed to New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft, who allegedly rallied other stadium owners to issue an ultimatum.
The fallout has been immediate and devastating for Sheeran’s public image. On Wednesday, every other support act booked for the tour, including Finneas, Lukas Graham, and Aaron Rowe, quit in solidarity with Macklemore. Finneas said artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed. The movement has spread far beyond the initial tour lineup.
Massive Attack also weighed in, criticizing the idea that neutrality is acceptable in the face of what they describe as the slaughter of children, as reported by Consequence of Sound. They noted that entertainment should never be prioritized over resisting apartheid and genocide.
The criticism is coming from all corners of the entertainment world
According to Variety, Marissa Bode, the star of Wicked, who is in a wheelchair, posted a video saying, “Ed Sheeran, my legs may not work like they used to before, but at least I have a f—— spine. Free Palestine, b—-!” Meanwhile, children’s entertainer Ms. Rachel – Rachel Accurso – has pledged a $1 million donation to the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund.
She is matching the $1 million donation already pledged by Macklemore, who announced his contribution to six different organizations as he left the tour. These include the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, HEAL Palestine, Gaza Soup Kitchen, Medical Aid for Palestinians, the United Nations Relief Work Agency USA, and Anera. Accurso said there is a moral obligation to use one’s platform to protect human rights, especially given the death toll of Palestinian children.
Sheeran seems to be losing his reach as well
Classic Hits Radio, one of Ireland’s biggest commercial radio networks, has pulled his music from its playlists. According to Euro News, group program director Dave Kelly said the decision followed feedback from listeners and was made to stand alongside Irish artists who chose to leave the tour. While Sheeran has strong Irish roots, the station emphasized its belief in peace and the right of artists to express their views.
Social media metrics are reflecting this sharp decline in popularity. Social Blade states that Sheeran lost over 260,000 followers on Instagram in just three days following the controversy. Conversely, Macklemore and the artists who quit the tour have seen a combined surge of over 1.6 million new followers.
Garbage, another band that voiced support for the cause, stated that the global consciousness has shifted. They argued that the normalization of an apartheid state will no longer be tolerated and that fans are choosing to stand with their conscience rather than participate in complicity. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has also weighed in, calling the ability of stadium owners to restrict free speech a dangerous precedent.
As Sheeran prepares to return to the stage at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Saturday, September 19, 2026, the industry remains fixated on the fallout. It is a rare and spectacular stumble for an artist who previously maintained a wholesome and what he labeled ‘apolitical’ brand. Contrary to this claim, Sheeran has used his platform to show support for Ukraine and Israel in the past.
Whether he can recover from this reputation-staining controversy is unclear, but for now, he finds himself on the wrong side of a very loud and very public debate. The music world is clearly watching, and many are choosing to walk away from his stage rather than stay silent.
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