Ed Sheeran is addressing an unexpected family connection after remarks from his estranged cousin resurfaced amid controversy surrounding the singer’s decision involving Macklemore.
Ed recently discovered an old phone containing messages from people he had not spoken to in years, leading to an onstage mention of one relative who has since criticized him publicly.
Without naming the family member, he acknowledged the long-standing distance between them while the wider dispute continues to attract attention.
Ed Sheeran said the messages came from someone he hadn’t contacted in a long time.
While performing in Atlanta on Saturday, October 3, the “Shape of You” singer explained that he had recently recovered an old phone he had discarded about a decade ago and was going through the notifications.
“The other text messages were, like, from a family member who I haven’t spoken to in a very long time,” Ed said in a video shared by a fan account on Instagram.
He then appeared to reference the relative’s recent visibility online, adding, “You might have seen [my relative] recently on social media.”
He did not identify the family member during the concert. However, his comments came after his cousin, Jethro Sheeran, publicly criticized him over the controversy surrounding Macklemore.
Fans Praise Ed’s Humor As His Relative Drama Takes An Unexpected Turn
Fans quickly reacted to Ed Sheeran’s comments, with many finding humor in his words. One Instagram user called the moment “epic,” suggesting the Grammy winner wouldn’t have addressed the situation publicly if Jethro hadn’t spoken out first.
“I love this man, he’s so funny. I’m so happy that he’s doing well, and is joking again!” another fan wrote, while a concertgoer who witnessed the moment in person said, “This was so funny. I was at the concert too and I couldn’t stop laughing.”
Another fan recalled hearing Ed’s comments while driving home after Jethro had started speaking publicly about the situation.
The fan said they initially wondered whether the singer was referring to Jethro but avoided saying so because they did not want him to face additional scrutiny.
“I didn’t want to say it out loud in fear Ed would get hounded for it but then Jethro confirmed it,” the fan wrote, adding that the revelation made them appreciate the song even more.
Jethro Accused Ed Sheeran Of Being ‘Selfish’ And ‘Malicious’
The comments Ed referenced during his Atlanta concert came after his cousin Jethro publicly attacked him over the fallout surrounding Macklemore’s removal from the Loop Tour.
As The Blast reported, Jethro took to social media on September 17 to make his feelings about the songwriter clear, revealing, “I’m ashamed of my Cousin Ed.”
Jethro continued, “Finally, the world and all his fans see through him.” He then questioned Ed’s character, writing, “He’s not a good person, I don’t like his music so I can’t say he’s even a good artist. He’s honestly a selfish individual with malicious, cunning ways.”
His criticism went beyond the Macklemore situation. Jethro alleged that the 35-year-old had mocked his mental health and said he had personally experienced behavior that shaped his opinion of his cousin.
He also called Ed a “coward” and accused him of turning his back on people around him after achieving major success.
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Jethro Claims Ed Turned His Back On Their Shared Musical Past
Jethro later expanded on his criticism of Ed Sheeran during an interview with Piers Morgan, where he described a much longer history of conflict between the cousins.
According to The Blast, the musician noted that he and his cousin were once close and worked together musically, claiming he took Ed “on stage for the first time” and “to the studio for the first time.”
According to Jethro, their relationship changed after Ed’s career took off. “And then he just kind of went his own way,” the 44-year-old claimed, alleging that Ed “just completely left everything that we built behind.”
Jethro also explained that 48 songs they had been involved with were removed from Spotify and Apple Music. He said his lawyer eventually received a response stating that Ed had “requested and instructed” the songs’ removal.
He then connected those grievances to the Macklemore controversy. “Seeing what he did to Macklemore, I believe that he kicked him off that show,” Jethro said, adding, “I believe he did it with his team and then he blamed the promoter.”
When Morgan challenged him over his previous description of Ed as a coward, Jethro stood by it. “I’ve witnessed him being a coward for almost 10 years and lying,” he claimed.
Macklemore’s Removal From Ed Sheeran’s Tour Sparked The Dispute
The dispute Jethro tied his accusations to began when Macklemore made pro-Palestinian remarks during his September 4 performance at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
The Blast reported that during the show, the rapper explained why the political message was important to him, saying, “A big part of the reason why I wanted to do this tour in the first place is so I can stand up in stadiums like this and say two words that are very near and dear to my heart: Free Palestine.”
Macklemore also said he wanted people in Gaza and the occupied West Bank to know they had not been forgotten.
His comments prompted opposition from venue owners connected to Ed’s remaining U.S. shows. Macklemore was subsequently removed from the U.S. leg of the Loop Tour, where he had been scheduled to perform at eight of the remaining dates.
Sheeran later insisted the decision was not his. “Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter’s decision, it was not mine,” he wrote, explaining that he had spoken with venues and promoters in an attempt to find a resolution.
The fallout continued as other supporting acts withdrew from the tour in solidarity with Macklemore, including Finneas, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe and Beoga.
