Ed Sheeran has been drawn into renewed debate over music and political expression after rapper Macklemore announced his 'Free Palestine' tour on Thursday, 24 September 2026. Journalist Eve Barlow claimed on X that Sheeran had been 'set up' by the timing of the announcement, following an earlier dispute involving Macklemore's removal from the US leg of Sheeran's Loop Tour.
Barlow's claim has not been independently verified. Neither Macklemore nor Sheeran has publicly confirmed that the tour announcement was connected to any attempt to target Sheeran.