‘We have skin in the game’: TD backs ‘half Irish’ Macklemore after Sheeran ditching

Ed Sheeran has apologised to fans for his part in a controversy involving US singer Macklemore and his remarks on Palestine. During a concert in Philadelphia, Sheeran said he had made mistakes and apologised, adding that he had tried to avoid being a political commentator but could no longer hide his feelings. He described the October 7 attack by Hamas as "horrific" and what was happening in Gaza as "catastrophic and unjustifiable, and disproportionate".

Macklemore was removed as one of Sheeran's tour's opening acts after saying "Free Palestine" at a show earlier this month. The other supporting acts, including American musician Finneas, Irish singer Aaron Rowe, Danish band Lukas Graham, and Irish folk group Beoga, subsequently quit to show solidarity with Macklemore.

An Irish TD has expressed support for Macklemore, according to The Irish Times, describing him as "half Irish".

Brief written by urgent.news from The Irish Times, The National UAE, The National Business — 3 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.