Jethro Sheeran has launched a fresh attack on his cousin Ed Sheeran, calling the pop star a “coward” and saying he is “not a good person” amid the row over Macklemore’s removal from the singer’s US tour.
The American rapper had spoken in support of Palestine and worn a keffiyeh while opening Ed Sheeran’s performances at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on September 4 and 5.
Macklemore was due to appear at eight of the remaining ten shows, but it was announced on Monday that he had been dropped from the tour. Sheeran has said the decision was made by the promoter and was not his.
Jethro, who is nine years older than his cousin and has previously been involved in a bitter family feud with him, said he was “ashamed” of Ed in a post on Facebook.
“Finally it’s all coming out! I’m ashamed of my cousin Ed and what he’s done,” he wrote. “Finally the world and all his fans see through him. He’s not a good person, I don’t like his music so I can’t say he’s even a good artist.”
He later added: “Ed Sheeran! He is shady and he’s dropped Macklemore himself I believe 100 per cent he’s a coward. In my opinion he’s a bad human. Just my opinion from my experiences.”
Sheeran, who has been a long-term friend of Macklemore, has insisted that he was not responsible for the rapper’s departure. He has also said that his audiences include young people from different backgrounds who do not expect his concerts to become a political forum.
The dispute has also revived the cousins’ earlier disagreement over a track called Raise Em Up, which they recorded together in 2010 and which later featured in the 2013 film All Stars.
Jethro said he had recorded a remixed version of the song, crediting Ed and using his image in the artwork, in the hope that its release would help fund a music career for his daughter, Skyla Rain Sheeran.
He claimed lawyers representing Ed’s record label, Warner Music, contacted him and threatened legal action unless references to Ed were removed from the track.
Several public figures have expressed support for Macklemore’s comments on Palestine. Lewis Hamilton wrote, “Thank you for using your voice, standing with you,” while activist Greta Thunberg said she stood in “full solidarity” with him and a free Palestine.
Paloma Faith also praised the rapper as “a rare and important voice” and called him “a hero”.
Sheeran lost more than 200,000 Instagram followers in 24 hours during the controversy. Following the announcement about Macklemore, all of his remaining support acts also withdrew from the tour.
