Philip DeFranco says Ed Sheeran’s statement made the situation worse
Commentator and host of The Philip DeFranco Show
“Ed, your silence was loud. Your inaction was gargantuan.” … “I also find it off-putting that he is making himself seem like he has less power in this situation, like he’s not the main … attraction, worldwide phenomenon, Ed Sheeran.”
Source and context
Original video
About this source
A further Philip DeFranco video published after Ed Sheeran’s September 15 statement, responding to it directly. A transcript was obtained from YouTube’s automatically generated captions. Those captions contain clear transcription errors in places, so quotations drawn from them should be checked against the recording before publication.
Before the quotation
The video followed Sheeran’s September 15 statement and is titled “Ed Sheeran Just Made The Macklemore Mess So Much Worse.” DeFranco had already criticised Sheeran the previous day.
After the quotation
He also called Sheeran “a coward” and praised Ms. Rachel for speaking out despite the risk to her audience.
How this statement is classified
Case context: Macklemore’s “Free Palestine” speech and removal from Ed Sheeran’s U.S. tour
The label describes this statement’s response within the context above.
Why this label?
Relative to Macklemore’s MetLife speech and his removal, DeFranco defends the stand Macklemore took and condemns Sheeran’s handling of it, rejecting the claim that Sheeran lacked power over the outcome. This is a further, sharper statement than his September 14 remarks already recorded in this case, not a change of position, so it is recorded separately rather than as a supersession.
- Recorded on
- Published here
- People and groups discussed
- Macklemore

Macklemore’s “Free Palestine” speech and removal from Ed Sheeran’s U.S. tour
Explore the case context, sources and public responses.
More from this case
Read the full case“Glad to see Macklemore off Ed Sheeran’s tour. For years, Macklemore has pushed antisemitic tropes and demonized Israel and Israelis. Now he certainly has the 1A right to speak out and express his views, but demonizing Jews and Israelis shouldn’t be rewarded.”Read statement
“When your only response to dissent is to use power and wealth to make it go away, you are going to have the opposite effect. People can see what’s happening in the Middle East with their eyes and don’t want to be told what they’re allowed to think by people who own stadiums.”Read statement
“So proud of Aaron. A brave and selfless act to stand with Palestine & humanity against Israel’s barbarism and the billionaires that support their crimes. Aaron you have upheld Ireland’s noble tradition of resistance to colonialism & Empire. So proud!”Read statement