Ed Sheeran Instructed to Remain Silent on Sydney Sweeney Controversy
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ — Ed Sheeran has been instructed to remain silent on the Sydney Sweeney controversy after his opening act suggested the actress should not pose nude to sell sports gambling.
“I mean, I like sports, and I like women, but Robert Kraft asked me not to weigh in,” Sheeran said outside a stadium loading dock. “I was told the venues would pull the dates if I said anything about the negative impact pornography has on our country.”
Macklemore was removed from the remaining Loop Tour dates after telling a packed house that Sweeney’s campaign for the prediction market Novig, in which she covers herself with sports equipment and little else, was a problem.
“Think about the children who will see this,” Macklemore said from the stage. “You cannot sell betting with a body and then pretend the product is just sports.”
Tour promoter Messina Touring Group confirmed venues on the upcoming U.S. dates would not allow the concerts to proceed with Macklemore on the bill. Sheeran said the call was not his.
“Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter’s decision,” he said. “Robert Kraft has a vested interest in pornography and sports gambling. Who am I to get in his way?"
Sweeney’s ad, released online and viewed tens of millions of times, shows the actress holding footballs against her chest, perched on a basketball hoop, and pitching a platform that claims it offers “no betting on wars or deaths and no politics.”
Macklemore said Sheeran told him Kraft, owner of Gillette Stadium and the New England Patriots, would not allow the rapper to perform at his venue and had rallied other stadium owners.
“Ed told me that if I stayed on the tour, he would not be allowed to play in their buildings,” Macklemore said. “He also told me the words ‘think about the children’ were hurtful to the people he spoke with.”
Sheeran has declined further comment on Sweeney, Novig, the negative impacts of pornography, or protecting children.
“I write love songs,” he said.
Remaining support acts have begun leaving the tour. Sheeran said he remains appalled by suffering in the world and by anyone asking him to explain a nude sports ad.
“The children will have to think about it without me,” he said. “I have a set list to finish and a stadium owner to keep happy.”
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