Ed Sheeran Addresses Estranged Cousin’s Public Criticism

The singer revealed that he had recently recovered a discarded phone from a decade ago, which contained notifications from family members with whom he has had no contact for years. While Sheeran did not explicitly name his cousin during the performance, his comments arrived shortly after Jethro Sheeran launched a series of blistering public attacks, labeling the musician as "selfish" and "malicious."

Jethro’s grievances are rooted in both personal history and the recent controversy surrounding the removal of rapper Macklemore from Sheeran’s Loop Tour. Following Macklemore’s pro-Palestinian remarks at a New Jersey stadium, he was dropped from the remainder of the tour. While Sheeran stated the decision was made by promoters, Jethro accused his cousin of orchestrating the move and turning his back on their shared musical beginnings. The dispute has further intensified as Jethro alleges that Sheeran previously instructed the removal of 48 collaborative tracks from streaming platforms, a claim that has fueled ongoing public scrutiny of the singer’s career moves.