Charlotte Church has hit out at Ed Sheeran over the Macklemore row saying the former “chose consumerism and capitalism over doing the right thing”.
Ahead of a cover of ‘California Über Alles’ by Dead Kennedys during her End Times Pop Dungeon concert at the Depot in Cardiff on Sunday (September 22), Church heavily criticised Sheeran after Macklemore was dropped from the singer’s ‘Loop’ tour over his pro-Palestine comments, a controversy which was inflamed by Sheeran’s subsequent speech about trying “not be a political commentator of any kind” throughout his career.
Church has been vocal in her support for Gaza, leading a pro-Palestinian chant at a live charity event in 2024 which was seeking to raise money for the Middle East Children’s Alliance, which supports children in Gaza.
Towards the end of the show, she led a choir of 100 singers in a chant of “from the river to the sea”. She received backlash for the use of that phrase as it is politically charged, with some, including the Campaign Against Antisemitism, believing that it calls for the destruction of the state of Israel.
Church addressed the backlash in an Instagram livestream at the time stating: “Just to clarify my intentions there, I am in no way anti-Semitic. I am fighting for the liberation of all people. I have a deep heart for all religions and all difference.”
She also revealed that her family had been threatened over her support for Gaza.
On Sunday, she criticised Sheeran, telling the crowd: “Whilst he has made millions and has an enormous following, he has an enormous platform to do real good in the world. He chose consumerism and capitalism over doing the right thing.
“So we say the same thing to Ed Sheeran because fuck the fact that musicians shouldn’t be involved in politics. Fuck that shit. Politics is life.”
She added: “Ed Sheeran we’re watching you,” before leading the crowd into a chant of ‘Free Palestine’.
It comes after Greta Thunberg also called out Sheeran’s “lack of spine” and urged people not to follow suit, encouraging them to step out of their comfort zones in the fight against genocide.
The environmental activist was abducted in international waters and illegally detained in an Israeli prison while attempting to break their blockade and deliver humanitarian aid to the occupied Gaza Strip, last year.
Sheeran returned to the stage in Philadelphia on Saturday (September 19) and admitted making “mistakes” over the Macklemore row, telling the crowd at Lincoln Financial Field that the fallout had made him question whether he wanted “to be an artist at all”.
“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
“I’ve had to take and make difficult decisions, and I am making mistakes, and I’m so, so sorry,” he said.
Sheeran also said he had never intended to be “an activist musician”, but that the controversy had placed him at the centre of “an important and passionate argument 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, he added: “I’ve tried in my career to not be a political commentator of any kind because I want my music and shows to be about unity, not division, about humanity, not politics. But this is a humanitarian issue, and I cannot hide how I feel about it anymore.”
Sheeran also went on to describe the Hamas-led attack at the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023 as “horrific”, before saying that what was happening in Gaza was “catastrophic, unjustifiable, and disproportionate”.
He also said he was “speaking to people across the spectrum” about making a humanitarian contribution.
Elsewhere, Bob Geldof, recently defended Sheeran, telling the Belfast Telegraph that artists have the right to decide when and where they want to use their platform to speak on political issues.
Geldof’s defence of Sheeran follows similar comments from former support act Aaron Rowe, who said that anger over the situation should instead be aimed at “the likes of Robert Kraft”.
Macklemore was dropped after making an impassioned “Free Palestine” speech during his support slots at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where he also performed his protest track ‘Hind’s Hall’ alongside footage from Gaza. He subsequently faced calls for his removal from figures including Pink and the Israeli American Council.
Kraft later said he found Macklemore’s comments “deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community”. Sheeran has maintained that the final decision to remove the rapper was made by promoter Messina Touring Group after a number of venues objected to Macklemore appearing.
The move prompted FINNEAS, Lukas Graham, Rowe and Beoga to withdraw from the tour, while Sheeran’s backing musicians also pulled out.
