Pink Floyd legend Roger Waters recently slammed Ed Sheeran as a “prick” over the controversy surrounding Macklemore’s removal from Sheeran’s Loop Tour. Waters shared his thoughts in a video posted on Instagram.
The controversy began after Macklemore made pro-Palestinian remarks, leading to his removal from the tour and drawing significant backlash from fans and musicians. In his video message, titled “Ed Who?”, Waters addressed Sheeran directly to express his disapproval.
“I just have a little message for [Sheeran],” Waters said. “There are two kinds of people in this world. There’s people who do the right thing — the rapper Macklemore would be one of those people.”
Waters then criticized Sheeran’s actions during the tour controversy.
“And there’s people — many of them, sadly — little f… excuse me, I nearly used the F-word then… pricks like you who do the wrong thing,” Waters continued. “Goodbye.”
The dispute followed Macklemore’s onstage comments about the Israel-Palestine conflict and quickly developed into a wider debate over artists using concert platforms to address political issues.
Macklemore was removed from the remaining U.S. dates of Sheeran’s Loop Tour after saying “Free Palestine” during a performance at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. He also spoke about Gaza and the occupied West Bank during his set.
Macklemore’s remarks led to criticism from Jewish advocacy groups and calls for him to be removed from the tour. A petition urged Sheeran and the tour’s leadership to address Macklemore’s political statements, visual material and performance of “Hind’s Hall.”
The decision also reportedly involved pressure from venues scheduled to host the tour. Multiple stadiums told promoter Messina Touring Group they would not allow the shows to proceed with Macklemore remaining on the lineup, raising the possibility of cancellations.
Sheeran later denied that he personally made the decision to remove Macklemore. Sheeran said, “Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter’s decision, it was not mine,” and explained that Macklemore’s contract was with the promoter rather than with him.
Macklemore, meanwhile, said the removal followed his public support for Palestinians. The controversy has since placed renewed attention on the limits of political expression during major concert tours and on the differing responses of artists, promoters and venues to statements made onstage.
