Ball says Macklemore "didn't do anything wrong," calls Sheeran's response cowardice
Krystal BallCo-host, Breaking Points
Breaking Points co-host Krystal Ball said Macklemore "didn't do anything wrong" and called Ed Sheeran's response "complete cowardice."
“didn't do anything wrong... he's a real one... complete cowardice on the part of Sheeran”
Analysis
Where this statement fits
Macklemore’s “Free Palestine” speech and removal from Ed Sheeran’s U.S. tour
At two Ed Sheeran concerts at MetLife Stadium, Macklemore called for a free Palestine, accused Israel of apartheid and genocide, and said criticism of Israel was not criticism of Jewish people. After venue objections, tour promoter Messina Touring Group said he would not perform the remaining U.S. Loop Tour dates. Critics characterized the performance as hostile or inappropriate; Macklemore defended it as a call for equal treatment.
Source and context
Analysis
About this source
Breaking Points (Krystal Ball and Saagar Enjeti) segment on Macklemore's tour removal, before the Sept 16 donation pledges.
Before the quotation
Discussing Macklemore's tour removal on Breaking Points, co-hosted with Saagar Enjeti.
After the quotation
Co-host Saagar Enjeti also condemned Robert Kraft's behind-the-scenes pressure on the tour.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
Ball explicitly says Macklemore 'didn't do anything wrong' and praises him, while condemning Sheeran's response as cowardice -- a direct defense of Macklemore in this dispute.
- Recorded on
- Published here
- People and groups discussed
- Ed Sheeran, Macklemore
More from this case
Read the full caseMacklemore says the "billionaire class" should not decide "which voices are allowed on stage"
“What happened to me is bigger than one artist or one stage. When the billionaire class can decide which voices are allowed on stage and which ones are too dangerous to hear, everyone should be paying attention. So we're going on tour. All proceeds will benefit organizations supporting the Palestinian people and movement.”Read statement
Jewish Voice for Peace says the backlash to Macklemore's removal shows support for pro-Palestine speech
Jewish Voice for Peace
“Two years into Trump’s crackdown on pro-Palestine organizing, the backlash against Sheeran shows how little patience Americans have for attacks on pro-Palestine speech. It also demonstrates the shift toward support for Palestinian rights among everyday Americans that our movements have helped propel.”Read statement
Macklemore announces "Free Palestine Tour" after removal from U.S. dates
“To push back when the call for a Free Palestine is met with attempts to silence it.”Read statement
Share or embed this statement
The embed keeps its attribution link to The Dispute Index. Credit the image to The Dispute Index and link to the statement page.
Cite this record
- Publisher
- The Dispute Index
- Title
- Ball says Macklemore "didn't do anything wrong," calls Sheeran's response cowardice
- First published
- Last updated
- Permalink
- https://disputeindex.com/events/839-breaking-points-co-host-krystal-ball-said-macklemore
Last updated marks the most recent saved version of this published statement.
The Dispute Index. "Ball says Macklemore "didn't do anything wrong," calls Sheeran's response cowardice". First published: 2026-09-17. Last updated: 2026-09-17. https://disputeindex.com/events/839-breaking-points-co-host-krystal-ball-said-macklemore