Web Desk: Ed Sheeran has reportedly told friends he feels “so alone” as controversy surrounding his world tour intensifies following the removal of US rapper Macklemore from the lineup.
The 35-year-old singer is said to have been deeply affected by the fallout, with the dispute over Macklemore’s comments about the conflict in Gaza also raising questions about the future of Sheeran’s current The Loop tour.
According to the account provided, Sheeran told friends that he had begun questioning whether he wanted to continue working as an artist at all.
The controversy escalated after Macklemore, whose real name is Benjamin Haggerty, was removed from the tour lineup following his public comments about the Israel-Gaza conflict.
The situation was followed by the withdrawal of support acts and members of Sheeran’s backing band from the remaining tour dates, further adding to the pressure surrounding the singer’s performances.
The departures have intensified uncertainty around the rest of the tour while Sheeran deals with the personal impact of the dispute.
Sheeran performed publicly for the first time since the controversy emerged over the weekend.
During the show, he became emotional and broke down while speaking to the audience about what had happened. His comments reflected the strain the dispute has placed on him as the controversy continues to attract attention.
People close to the singer said he had been “impacted deeply” by the events, according to the account.
The episode has placed Sheeran at the center of a wider debate over artists, political expression and the consequences of public statements about the conflict in Gaza.
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