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

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

The Irish band addressed the dispute in a new interview with BBC Newswith guitarist The Edge expressing his support for Macklemore while defending Sheeran against criticism.

“We completely support Macklemore’s right as an artist to say what he wanted to say,” he explained.

“I don’t think Ed should be vilified,” he added, acknowledging the difficult situation the singer faced.

The Edge also praised the young musicians who pulled out of Sheeran’s tour in solidarity with Macklemore, arguing that they had taken a stand to defend another artist’s free speech, which he saw as the overarching issue in the conflict.

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

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“But as a group, we will fight for the right to express what we think as long as it doesn’t incite violence. And even if we don’t agree with it or don’t like it, no one has the right – no billionaire, no promoter, no owner has the right to censor anyone. Um, but they will certainly never censor us.”

Their comments reference 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 protection for Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank before declaring “Free Palestine” and performing his protest song “Hind’s Hall.”

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

Promoters then pulled the rapper from the tour, prompting Sheeran’s backing band and other support acts, including Finneas, Lukas Graham and Beoga, to pull out in solidarity.

Sheeran later denied being complicit in the decision, explaining that he wanted his concerts to remain places of safety and sanctuary rather than political forums.

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

“You’re not going to get me into politics, are you?” Bono remembers Sheeran asking him during the recording process.

According to Bono, Sheeran then explained: “Yeah, but I just want to keep my thing loose.” »

Meanwhile, Macklemore recently completed three sold-out “Free Palestine” benefit concerts in Dublin, Paris and London.

The shows featured guests such as Hozier, Kneecap, Aurora, Greta Thunberg and Paloma Faith, whose proceeds supported organizations working with Palestinians.

Macklemore has since claimed that nine major U.S. venues declined to host further benefit concerts, accusing venue owners of pulling available dates once they learned the purpose of the shows.

Meanwhile, U2 is preparing to release its 16th studio album “Carnaval De Luz” on November 13, ahead of its return to full-scale touring in 2027.