Greta Thunberg has criticised Ed Sheeran’s response to the war in Gaza, accusing him of lacking the courage to take a stronger public stand and warning others against adopting the same position.
The environmental activist, who was taken from a ship in international waters and detained in an Israeli prison last year while attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, voiced her criticism in a recent Instagram video.
“Ed Sheeran should be held accountable for his lack of spine,” Thunberg said. “But we must apply the same pressure to everyone who is complicit in genocide. The larger a person’s platform and access to resources, the greater their responsibility.”
“The responsibility also falls on ourselves and on the institutions to which we belong. We need to push for boycotts, sanctions and divestment. If we are not prepared to leave our comfort zones, we are not doing enough. Silence is complicity, and there can be no neutrality in a genocide.”
The video was released after Sheeran faced backlash over removing Macklemore from his Loop tour following the rapper’s pro-Palestinian remarks. The controversy intensified after Sheeran said he had long tried to avoid acting as a political commentator.
Sheeran returned to the stage in Philadelphia on Saturday, September 19, and acknowledged that he had made mistakes while handling the Macklemore controversy. Speaking to the crowd at Lincoln Financial Field, he said the episode had made him question whether he wanted to continue being an artist.
“I’ve had to make difficult decisions, and I am making mistakes, and I’m so, so sorry,” he said.
He said he had never wanted to be known as an activist musician, but that the dispute had placed him at the centre of a passionate debate about freedom of speech.
“I am deeply worried about the idea that venues should pre-approve content for performers,” he told the audience. “This happens in so many places that I perform around the world, but it should never happen in the free world.”
Turning to Gaza, Sheeran said he had tried throughout his career not to make political comments because he wanted his music and concerts to promote unity and humanity rather than division and politics.
“But this is a humanitarian issue, and I cannot hide how I feel about it anymore.”
Sheeran described the Hamas-led attack at the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023 as horrific, before condemning the situation in Gaza as catastrophic, unjustifiable and disproportionate.
He said he was speaking with people across the political spectrum about making a humanitarian contribution.
During the same concert, Sheeran said he had removed the standard B-stage because he was concerned about what might happen if he stood in the middle of the crowd.
“I didn’t know if I’d have things thrown at me,” he told fans.
“Last week I saw people I’ve known for years, friends abandoned me and today I saw 50.000 people who haven’t abandoned me“
— Ed during his final speech last night in Philadelphia
Cr: bridgetgoes on TikTok pic.twitter.com/67UATXAvbk
— Ed Sheeran Access (@AccessEdSheeran) September 21, 2026
Bob Geldof, one of Sheeran’s defenders, recently told the Belfast Telegraph that artists have the right to decide when and where to use their platform to address political issues.
Geldof said: “There are those who say that, at a certain level of fame, maintaining a non-political stance is itself political. No, that’s not right. Fame is a currency, and it depends on how you want to use it.”
He continued: “I wouldn’t expect The Rolling Stones to get up and go on about Gaza. You just wouldn’t. Why? Because it’s not their thing, although I’m quite sure Mick Jagger has an opinion on it.”
Geldof’s defence of Sheeran followed similar comments from former support act Aaron Rowe, who said criticism should instead be directed at figures such as Robert Kraft.
“I’m gonna be honest, I think youse are all focusing on the wrong person here,” Rowe said. “All I keep hearing is Ed Sheeran this, Ed Sheeran that, when youse really should be focusing on the likes of Robert Kraft.”
Rowe, one of the musicians who withdrew from the tour, acknowledged that Sheeran’s initial statement “could have been a lot better” but maintained that Macklemore should not have been removed.
“All he has inside of him is kindness. That is who Ed Sheeran is. And yes, like every other human being he makes fucking mistakes.”
Macklemore was removed after delivering an impassioned “Free Palestine” speech during his support slots at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. He also performed his protest track “Hind’s Hall” alongside footage from Gaza.
The rapper subsequently faced calls for his removal from figures including Pink and the Israeli American Council.
Kraft later described Macklemore’s comments as “deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community”. Sheeran has said the final decision to remove the rapper was made by promoter Messina Touring Group after several venues objected to Macklemore appearing.
The decision prompted FINNEAS, Lukas Graham, Rowe and Beoga to withdraw from the tour, while Sheeran’s backing musicians also pulled out.
Other artists continued to comment on the dispute. In an interview with NME published on September 21, Maruja said the controversy should redirect attention “back to what is actually going on in Palestine” and insisted the situation “isn’t about Macklemore and Ed Sheeran”.
Frontman Joe Carroll added: “You get misled that you have to pick a side, but this is a genocide. There shouldn’t be any ‘picking a side’, it’s just basic human morality.”