Ed Sheeran responds to cousin’s criticism during tour

Ed Sheeran has seemingly responded to criticism from his cousin Jethro Sheeran amid the ongoing controversy surrounding his Loop Tour. At a concert on October 3 in Atlanta, he shared that he recently found an old phone and received notifications from conversations with a family member he hadn’t spoken to in a long time. Although Ed did not name the cousin, Jethro had previously criticized him for firing rapper Macklemore from the tour.

On September 17, Jethro wrote on social media: «I'm ashamed of my cousin Ed. Finally, the world and all his fans see him for who he really is. He’s not a good person, I don’t like his music, so I can’t even say he’s a good artist. He’s honestly a selfish person with malicious intent». Ed did not comment on these remarks, while Jethro continued to insist on his stance, claiming that Ed was involved in Macklemore’s dismissal.

Ed Sheeran publicly denied the accusations regarding his involvement in that decision. During his concert on September 19 in Philadelphia, he apologized for «mistakes» and noted that his music has always been a safe space for everyone. He also emphasized that he did not want to disappoint his fans and found himself at the center of an important discussion about freedom of speech. In support of Macklemore, several artists left the tour, and in Atlanta, Ed invited musician Isaiah Slade from the band The Fray.