PIERS MORGAN GUEST BRANDS ED SHEERAN A ‘COWARD’ AS LOOP TOUR FALLOUT DEEPENS — ELLIE GOULDING’S SILENT REACTION ALSO GRABS ATTENTION

Piers Morgan’s latest take on the Ed Sheeran tour controversy has sparked another fiery reaction after one of his guests branded the singer a “coward” over the fallout surrounding Macklemore.

The outspoken TV host, 61, discussed the growing controversy on Piers Morgan Uncensored after Macklemore was removed from Sheeran’s LOOP Tour following his onstage support for Palestine.

The dispute has since widened, with the remaining support acts and touring band members withdrawing from the tour in solidarity with Macklemore. Sheeran has said the decision to remove the rapper was made by the promoter rather than by him.

‘HE CAN’T BE THAT SURPRISED’

Piers initially took aim at what he described as Macklemore’s “stunt”, while making clear that he did not object to the political message itself.

Instead, he questioned how the situation had escalated and argued that Sheeran should have known what could happen when Macklemore was booked as a support act.

“Ed knew who he was booking as one of his support acts. He can’t be that surprised as he is now trying to pretend he is about what then happened,” Piers said.

“He’s now taking enormous flack from absolutely everybody.”

The presenter also pointed to what he saw as apparent double standards surrounding the controversy.

“Ed Sheeran knew what he was getting. If it looks like a duck it’s gonna quack,” he added.

‘ED SHEERAN WAS A COWARD’

Piers’ guest, journalist Wajahat Ali, went further during the discussion, directly attacking Sheeran’s public stance.

Ali argued that Sheeran should have anticipated the consequences of working with Macklemore and accused the singer of avoiding a political position.

He said: “Ed Sheeran was a coward. Ed Sheeran said, I’m apolitical, but all the data shows that Ed Sheeran was very political and supported. Wait for it. Ukraine!”

The comments came as the controversy continued to spread well beyond the original decision to remove Macklemore from the tour.

Macklemore has since said he will donate his $1 million in earnings from the LOOP Tour to six organisations supporting Palestinians, while challenging Robert Kraft to match the donation.

ELLIE GOULDING’S ONE-WORD REACTION

Amid the increasingly heated debate, Ellie Goulding also caught fans’ attention with a remarkably brief post.

On Tuesday, the singer shared a single heart emoji on X without adding any further explanation.

Fans quickly interpreted the timing as significant, with one writing: “Objectively funniest thing she could’ve tweeted right now. Not a word. Not a joke. Just a single heart. Honestly iconic.”

Her post came as the wider LOOP Tour fallout continued to develop, with Aaron Rowe, Lukas Graham, Finneas and Beoga all issuing statements after withdrawing from the tour.

THE $2 MILLION TWIST

The financial fallout has also taken an unexpected turn.

Robert Kraft, the stadium owner who has been central to the controversy, said Ed Sheeran had contacted him and asked him to commit $2 million to humanitarian aid in the region.

Kraft said the request came before Macklemore publicly challenged him to match the rapper’s $1 million donation.

“Earlier today, before Macklemore challenged me to match his donation, Ed called me and asked me to commit $2 million to match his donation to aid in the region to fight this humanitarian crisis,” Kraft said.

Kraft also said Sheeran planned to contact other venue owners, with the stated aim of working together to “build bridges.”

The controversy has now moved far beyond one performer leaving a tour, with Sheeran facing criticism over the decision, Macklemore directing his earnings toward humanitarian organisations and the remaining acts stepping away.

And with the LOOP Tour still continuing, the debate surrounding who made the decision — and what happens next — is showing no sign of disappearing.