Bono says ‘we shouldn’t personalize’ Ed Sheeran, Macklemore fallout

Bono notes 'we shouldn't personalize' Ed Sheeran, Macklemore fallout. Amaris Encinas USA TODAY.

Key points

• Supporting acts, including Finneas O'Connell, Danish band Lukas Graham, singer-songwriter Aaron Rowe and Sheeran's live backing band Beoga, dropped out of the Loop Tour in solidarity with Macklemore.
• All proceeds from the Free Palestine Tour will benefit 12 organizations supporting Palestinians through medical care, humanitarian assistance, education, advocacy and community programs, according to the rapper.
• During Sheeran's concert at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, on Sept.
• When we did 'Yours Eternally, ' he was saying, 'You're not going to obtain me into politics, are you?' Bono stated.
• 19, Sheeran brought up the fallout onstage, telling fans he "had to take and make difficult decisions." He additionally called the Israel-Hamas war a "humanitarian issue."

Bono notes 'we shouldn't personalize' Ed Sheeran, Macklemore fallout. Amaris Encinas USA TODAY. Ed Sheeran admits 'mistakes' at concert, notes he's 'so, so sorry'.

Ed Sheeran opened his latest concert by addressing the controversy over Macklemore's removal from his tour after calling for a "free Palestine."

U2 frontman Bono has weighed in on the ongoing controversy involving Ed Sheeran after Macklemore was removed from the singer's tour when venues objected to the rapper's pro-Palestinian remarks.

Speaking with Rolling Stone, Bono opened up regarding working with the pop star on his band's surprise EP "Days of Ash" and offered his take on the matter, telling the outlet Sept. 30, that "we shouldn't personalize this, what's going on."

"(British musician) Brian Eno said today that pop stars are like little fish in a large sea of huge forces and religion and politics, " Bono remarked. "And so I don't want to dwell on Ed and Macklemore and that incident."

During Sheeran's concert at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, on Sept. 4, Macklemore wore a kaffiyeh, performed his pro-Palestinian protest song "Hind's Hall" and informed the crowd that a "big part of the reason" he wanted to join the tour was to advocate for a "free Palestine, " which he stated was "very near and dear to my heart."

Notably, the "Thrift Shop" singer reiterated the comments he created the after day, at the Sept. 5 show, which led to him being kicked off the tour.

Bono additionally recalled the 35-year-old "Shape of You" singer saying he wanted to keep politics out of any music he's making, including when he was working with the band on "Yours Eternally, " a track that chronicles the perspective of a Ukrainian soldier against the backdrop of Russia's war in the country.

"I will say this. When we did 'Yours Eternally, ' he was saying, 'You're not going to obtain me into politics, are you?'" Bono stated. "And I said, 'This soldier who has inspired us, he loved you, Ed, and you've worked on this song.'".

According to The rock star, sheeran replied, "I just want to keep my thing free, " which produced Bono realize "you can't be pushing people around." USA TODAY contacted Sheeran's reps for comment on Oct. 1. Macklemore announces Free Palestine tour after fallout.

Weeks after stadium owners, including New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, pressed the Grammy-winning rapper to be barred from performing the remaining dates of Sheeran's Loop Tour, Macklemore unveiled the launch of the Free Palestine Tour. It is due to kick off Oct. 26 at Dublin's 3Arena.

"What happened to me is bigger than one artist or one stage. When the billionaire class can decide which voices are allowed on stage and which ones are too dangerous to hear, everyone should be paying attention, " he remarked in a Sept. 24 statement. "So, as you all know, my schedule freed up a bit."

In the days after his removal, Macklemore vowed to donate the $1 million he earned from playing on the Loop Tour to six organizations supporting Palestinian residents and challenged Kraft to match the donation. Kraft afterwards shared that he and Sheeran. This person allegedly contacted him before Macklemore's public invitation, would pledge $2 million to the cause.

After mounting backlash, Sheeran addressed the incident in a Sept. 15 statement, saying that the decision to remove Macklemore from the tour wasn't his: "Macklemore's contract for the tour was with the promoter, not me."

Four days afterwards, on Sept. 19, Sheeran brought up the fallout onstage, telling fans he "had to take and make difficult decisions." He additionally called the Israel-Hamas war a "humanitarian issue."

"I am making mistakes, and I'm so, so sorry, " Sheeran remarked. "I don't want to disappoint fans, and I've never wanted to be an activist musician, but this has put me in the middle of an important and passionate argument about freedom of speech and the most complex political issue on the planet." Contributing: Sameen Chaudhry and Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY. SMS Facebook Twitter Email. Share your feedback to support improve our site! Share your feedback to support improve our site!

Taken together, the developments around bono says we shouldnt personalize Ed Sheeran, Macklemore fallout point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.