CMAT Defends Ed Sheeran Against “Unfair” Criticism, Says Star Was Poorly Advised

CMAT has come to the defense of Ed Sheeran, arguing that much of the recent backlash against the British singer-songwriter is unwarranted. Speaking candidly in a new interview, the Irish artist expressed sympathy for Sheeran, suggesting that he was caught off guard by the fallout from his decision to remove rapper Macklemore from his upcoming ‘Loop’ tour.

The controversy began when Macklemore delivered an on-stage speech advocating for a “free Palestine,” which drew swift condemnation from prominent figures such as New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and organizations like the Israeli American Council. Following mounting pressure, Sheeran’s team reportedly decided to drop Macklemore from the lineup—a move that sparked widespread criticism and led several supporting acts to withdraw in solidarity.

On *The Daily Show*, CMAT shared her perspective, describing her stance as a “hot take.” She stated, “I actually feel bad for the guy. I don’t think he knew what he was getting himself into.” She went on to suggest that Sheeran could have taken a firmer position by publicly supporting Macklemore, saying, “He could’ve absolutely said, ‘No, cancel the tour if you’re gonna cancel the tour. I want Macklemore to stay on as my support act.’”

CMAT also reflected on the pressures faced by high-profile artists, noting that fame and wealth often come with teams that prioritize commercial interests over moral clarity. “Famous people are often surrounded by a massive team of people who are making endless amounts of money off them,” she said. “They’re putting loads of pressure on them to do the thing that upholds the capital value of their artistic product. So I think he was given really bad advice.”

In another layer of her analysis, CMAT suggested that part of the intense reaction stems from Sheeran’s recent embrace of his Irish heritage. “He wanted to reconnect to his Irish roots and made that part of his personal brand and music,” she explained. “He hired all these incredible Irish musicians. But when issues like this arise—particularly around what I would call a genocide—Irish people are going to hold you accountable.”

As a result, CMAT believes Sheeran faces stricter scrutiny than other major artists who avoid assembling teams that challenge them morally. “He’s a guy that probably got a bit unlucky by his choices,” she concluded. “There are a lot of people who are doing much worse than him—and they’re not getting the same level of backlash because they refuse to be surrounded by people who would make it an issue for them.”

Since the controversy erupted, both of Sheeran’s scheduled performances at Gillette Stadium have been canceled due to severe weather warnings. Meanwhile, high-profile supporters of Macklemore—including Greta Thunberg, Massive Attack, Roger Waters, and Hayley Williams—have publicly aligned themselves with the rapper, who has pledged his full tour earnings—$1 million—to organizations aiding Palestinians.

Bono recently revealed another facet of the situation, sharing that Sheeran told him he didn’t want to “get into politics” during their collaboration on U2’s upcoming 2026 single, *Yours Eternally*.

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