U2 on the Ed Sheeran Macklemore row: “No billionaire, no promoter, no owner has the right to censor anybody”

U2 have spoken out about the controversy surrounding Macklemore‘s removal from Ed Sheeran‘s US tour, insisting that billionaire venue owners have no right to censor musicians.

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A banda irlandesa discutiu a polêmica em uma nova entrevista com a BBC News, com o guitarrista The Edge expressando seu apoio a Macklemore enquanto defendia Sheeran contra críticas.

The Edge also praised the younger musicians who withdrew from Sheeran’s tour in solidarity with Macklemore, arguing that they had taken a stand in defence of another artist’s freedom of expression, which he considered the overriding issue in the dispute.

Drummer Larry Mullen Jr. was similarly emphatic, adding: “Artists can choose whether they want to be, um, politically active or not. It’s a human right”.

Their comments relate to the controversy that erupted in September when Macklemore was dropped from Sheeran’s US ‘Loop Tour’.

During two concerts at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium, the rapper called for the protection of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank before declaring “Free Palestine” and performing his protest song ‘Hind’s Hall’.

The remarks prompted criticism from the Israeli-American Council and billionaire Robert Kraft, the owner of the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium, who objected to Macklemore performing at Sheeran’s subsequent concerts.

Os promotores posteriormente removeram o rapper do tour, levando a banda de apoio de Sheeran e os demais artistas de apoio, incluindo Finneas, Lukas Graham e Beoga, a se retirarem em solidariedade.

Sheeran posteriormente negou ter sido cúmplice na decisão, explicando que queria que seus shows permanecessem como lugares de segurança e refúgio, em vez de fóruns políticos.

The interview follows U2’s previous comments on the controversy last month, when Bono revealed that Sheeran had been reluctant to become involved in politics when collaborating with U2 on their new song ‘Yours Eternally’.

According to Bono, Sheeran subsequently explained: “Yeah, but I just want to keep my thing free.”.

Enquanto isso, Macklemore concluiu recentemente três concertos beneficentes 'Free Palestine' esgotados em Dublin, Paris e Londres.

The shows featured guests including Hozier, Kneecap, Aurora, Greta Thunberg and Paloma Faith, with proceeds supporting organisations working with Palestinians.

Macklemore has since claimed that nine major US arenas refused to host further benefit concerts, accusing venue owners of withdrawing available dates once they learned the purpose of the shows.

Meanwhile, U2 are preparing to release their 16th studio album ‘Carnaval De Luz’ on November 13, ahead of their return to full-scale touring in 2027.

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