Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez says she has stopped listening to Ed Sheeran.
The New York congresswoman, 35, delivered the blunt message to the outlet on Tuesday after all supporting acts withdrew from Sheeran’s North American Loop Tour over the removal of Macklemore. AOC tied the dispute to what she called a broader pattern of billionaire stadium owners suppressing speech about the war in Gaza.
“It’s not just what has happened with the act, and not just in removing Macklemore from the line-up. But when you see what Robert Kraft did to line up all of the stadiums to censor speech in that one specific way, it’s become clear that this is not just about one music artist or two music artists, but this is about how just a handful of stadium owners and the elite can prevent an entire massive issue, in this case, the genocide in Gaza,” she said.
“It could be speaking out about any issue, that you could now just get a handful of stadium owners to ensure that an entire person’s career can be jepordized if they speak out about any issue,” she continued.
AOC said the “least Ed Sheeran could do” was “speak out about the abuse of power.”
Macklemore, 41, had opened for Sheeran at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where he delivered a speech that included the exclamation “Free Palestine.” Pro-Israel groups pushed back, and Kraft — owner of the New England Patriots — confirmed that he had banned the “Thrift Shop” singer from opening at Gillette Stadium based on Macklemore’s “recent actions.” Tour promoter Messina Touring Group then confirmed Macklemore’s removal from remaining dates, citing venue threats to cancel shows entirely.
Sheeran, 33, responded on Instagram Tuesday with a lengthy statement. “After Macklemore’s performance at my New Jersey show’s, venues on my upcoming tour dates communicated they would pull the shows if he was still supporting,” he wrote. The “Shape of You” singer claimed he “spoke with the venues at length all week to try and build a bridge,” He added that the removal “wasn’t his decision” and noted that he was “not complicit in the Israel-Palestine conflict,” writing: “I have my personal views on the devastating conflict.”
The fallout extended rapidly through Sheeran’s supporting lineup. Irish singer Aaron Rowe, who had been scheduled to open, announced his withdrawal in a passionate social media post. “I have made the decision to withdraw as a support act for Ed Sheeran’s ‘The Loop’ North American Tour. I don’t take the decision lightly. Ed has been a friend to me and has changed my life, I could never thank him enough for this,” he wrote.
“But as Irish people we know all too well about genocide, forced famine and violent occupation. I cannot stand by and allow billionaires to use their position of power to silence the rightful voices of those who speak up against Israeli genocide and who highlight the savage murder of children,” Rowe continued.
He then said he would “lose all respect for himself” if he “carried on as normal.”
“I need to be true to myself and my ancestors who resisted colonisation, and fought for a freedom that I enjoy today in Ireland. FREE PALESTINE,” he concluded the post.
Finneas, the 26-year-old brother and collaborator of Billie Eilish, also stepped down. “Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed,” he said when announcing his departure. Danish pop group Lukas Graham and Irish folk band Beoga likewise withdrew from the tour.
The incident that set off the cascade occurred during Macklemore’s appearance at Sheeran’s New Jersey concert, where the Seattle rapper made onstage remarks about Palestine that drew both audience support and immediate backlash from pro-Israel organizations. Kraft’s subsequent intervention at Gillette Stadium and the broader venue pressure reported by Messina Touring Group turned a single concert moment into a touring crisis that has now cost Sheeran his entire supporting bill and drawn political condemnation from one of Congress’s most prominent progressive voices.
Sheeran’s tour continues without openers.