Jack Antonoff slams Ed Sheeran over Macklemore controversy, says he should have canceled tour: ‘Stand the f--- up’

Jack Antonoff criticized Ed Sheeran for proceeding with his tour after Macklemore's removal.

The Bleachers frontman said that Sheeran should have opted to "cancel the whole f---ing tour, then play for free outside each venue" to "raise a bunch of money."

Antonoff told Sheeran to "stand the f--- up" and opined that saying "Free Palestine" is "not in any way a strange, uncomfortable or controversial thing."

Jack Antonoff doesn't think Ed Sheeran handled his recent controversy well.

The Bleachers frontman criticized the "Shape of You" singer for proceeding with his Loop tour after Macklemore was removed from the lineup due to objections to his pro-Palestine comments on stage.

Though he has expressed solidarity with Palestine for years, Antonoff said that he has "felt way more emboldened to say" "Free Palestine" in public and on stage since the Macklemore debacle. "It's not in any way a strange, uncomfortable or controversial thing to say, it's a deeply human thing to say," he told The Guardian . "If you think it is [controversial] you're lost in some other sauce that is so crazy."

Antonoff condemned Sheeran, who blamed Macklemore's removal from the tour on a promoter who objected to the rapper's comments.

"They're going to let some f---ing promoter tell me what I can say? Don't book me. I'll play for free outside," he said. "[Ed Sheeran] missed a massive, beautiful opportunity there: just cancel the whole f---ing tour, then play for free outside each venue, raise a bunch of money, rather than let a f---ing billionaire tell you what to do."

He added, "The reason it's not an anomaly or niche issue is because we all live in a world where billionaires are constantly telling us what to do. So stand the f--- up."

Entertainment Weekly has reached out to representatives for Sheeran for comment.

Macklemore made comments advocating for Palestinian liberation and criticizing Israel on stage during his opening set of Sheeran's show in New Jersey on Sept. 5. A week later, Messina Touring Group, the promoter of the U.S. leg of the Loop tour, told Rolling Stone that "We have been notified by venues on the upcoming U.S. tour dates that they will not allow a concert to take place with Macklemore on the lineup," prompting Macklemore's removal.

"To all of my Jewish brothers and sisters, criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide, it in no way is criticism of you," Macklemore said during the show. "This message is for peace, love, for all human beings to be treated with dignity, respect, and equality."

Shortly after Macklemore's exit, all of the remaining musicians attached to the tour dropped out in solidarity, including opening acts Finneas, Aaron Rowe, and Lukas Graham, as well as Sheeran's backing band Beoga.

Sheeran released a statement refusing to take a side in the Israel-Palestine conflict, and wept on stage during his first concert after Macklemore's removal as he said, "I've had to take and make difficult decisions, and I am making mistakes, and I'm so sorry."

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Macklemore launched a three-concert "Free Palestine" tour in Europe, with all proceeds going toward organizations supporting Palestinian people.

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