Key Takeaways
- Ed Sheeran said a promoter removed Macklemore from his Loop Tour after venues objected to the rapper’s pro-Palestine performances, but his cousin Jethro Sheeran accused him of making the call himself and called him a “coward.”
- Jethro, who performs as Alonestar and collaborated with Ed early in their careers, also alleged that his cousin mocked his mental health, hurt him financially, and removed their songs from streaming services; Ed and Warner Music have not responded to those claims.
- After the remaining opening acts quit in solidarity with Macklemore, Ed apologized to fans and called the devastation in Gaza “catastrophic and unjustifiable,” while Jethro teased a new song titled “Eject” about their relationship.
Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour crisis has officially become a family matter. As the singer faces mounting backlash over Macklemore’s removal from the tour, his cousin Jethro Sheeran has entered the fight with years of grievances and no interest in keeping them private.
The British rapper and producer, known professionally as Alonestar, called Ed a “coward,” attacked his character, and declared that fans were finally seeing through his public image. “Finally it’s all coming out!” Jethro wrote on Instagram. “I’m ashamed of my Cousin Ed.”
And that was merely the opening shot.
Jethro accused Ed of being a “selfish individual with malicious, cunning ways” and claimed the superstar mocked his mental health, hurt him financially, and personally intervened to remove their collaborative songs from streaming services.
Neither Ed nor Warner Music has publicly responded to those allegations as of this writing.
Jethro also made clear that he does not consider himself a distant relative chasing attention. The first cousins worked together early in their careers on songs including “Raise Em Up,” “Real Life” and “All Falls Down.”
Jethro claimed he brought Ed into his first studio, put him onstage, and supported him when he was bullied at school.
“He only cared about himself,” Jethro alleged, accusing Ed of manufacturing agreeable narratives to protect private bookings and brand relationships. He suggested the Macklemore controversy was simply another example.
Macklemore was removed from his remaining U.S. dates of Ed’s tour after shouting “Free Palestine,” performing “Hind’s Hall,” and displaying images from Gaza during two MetLife Stadium shows. Multiple venue operators reportedly refused to host concerts with him on the lineup.
Ed has maintained that promoter Messina Touring Group made the final decision after negotiations with the venues failed. Jethro rejected that explanation.
“He’s dropped Macklemore himself—I believe 100%,” he wrote. “He’s a coward.”
Jethro is not alone in placing responsibility on Ed. Ms. Rachel said the singer had an opportunity to prove artists would not be “bullied into punishing people for supporting Palestine.”
“Instead he caved,” the children’s educator wrote. She also argued that “silence during a genocide is not neutral.”
Colin Kaepernick focused on the financial power behind the decision. Macklemore claimed New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, whose company owns Gillette Stadium, persuaded other stadium operators to reject him.
Kraft confirmed opposing Macklemore’s appearance at Gillette but said the decision concerned rhetoric and imagery he considered antisemitic—not support for Palestinians.
“They are willing to collude,” Kaepernick told MeidasTouch. “They are openly colluding.”
When commenters accused Jethro of jealousy, he responded with the scorched-earth follow-up: “Jealous of what? His looks? His guitar playing?”
He insisted that he owns his catalog, is financially independent, and has no desire “to look like or be like an Ed Sheeran.”
Amid the mounting backlash, Ed addressed the controversy at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field after every remaining opening act quit in solidarity with Macklemore. Ed acknowledged making mistakes, apologized to fans, and called the devastation in Gaza “catastrophic and unjustifiable.”
That apology has not quieted his cousin. Jethro is now teasing an upcoming song called “Eject,” which he says will reveal more about their relationship.
