Ed Sheeran Reacts to Cousin Jethro Sheeran Jabs Mentioning 'Family Member Who I Haven't Spoken To'

British singer Ed Sheeran appeared to address criticism from his cousin, Jethro Sheeran, during his Loop Tour concert in Atlanta on Saturday, 3 October, by referring to a 'family member' he had not spoken to 'in a very long time,' though he did not name the relative.

The remark followed weeks of controversy surrounding Macklemore's removal from the remaining Loop Tour dates. Macklemore had made pro-Palestinian remarks while supporting Sheeran at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey in September.

Sheeran has denied personally removing the rapper. He said the tour promoter made the final decision after venues objected because they were hosting upcoming shows.

Jethro had meanwhile publicly criticised his cousin during the fallout, leading to speculation that Sheeran's unnamed relative was him. That identification, however, remains unconfirmed.

Ed Sheeran Mentions Family Member He No Longer Speaks To

Sheeran made the remarks during his 3 October show at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta while discussing an old mobile phone he had recently recovered.

The 35-year-old said the device contained conversations and messages from years earlier, including one involving a relative. 'The other text messages were, like, from a family member who I haven't spoken to in a very long time,' Sheeran told the audience.

He then suggested concertgoers might recently have seen the unnamed relative on social media. Sheeran stopped short of identifying the person, but the comment was widely interpreted as a possible reference to Jethro because of his cousin's recent public criticism.

That interpretation should not be treated as confirmed. Sheeran neither mentioned Jethro by name nor directly responded to the individual accusations his cousin had made.

Ed Sheeran's Cousin Jethro Had Already Criticised Him

Jethro Sheeran, a British musician who performs as Alonestar, publicly criticised his cousin on social media on 17 September.

The timing is significant. Jethro's initial remarks came two days before Sheeran's 19 September concert at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.

Jethro said he was 'ashamed' of his cousin and criticised both his character and music. Those comments represented Jethro's personal views and allegations rather than independently established facts.

He also alleged that Sheeran himself had been responsible for Macklemore's removal from the tour. Jethro did not provide evidence establishing that claim.

Sheeran has offered a different account. 'Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter's decision; it was not mine,' Sheeran said during the controversy.

The singer said owners of venues hosting upcoming concerts had objected to Macklemore remaining on the bill. Sheeran said he attempted to mediate before the decision was finalised.

Robert Kraft was among those Sheeran said he spoke with. Kraft is chairman and chief executive of the Kraft Group, which includes Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts.

Kraft separately said Macklemore would not perform at Gillette Stadium. That decision was distinct from the promoter's subsequent removal of Macklemore from the remaining tour dates.

Several other performers later withdrew from Sheeran's tour in solidarity with Macklemore, including Finneas, Lukas Graham and Aaron Rowe. Members of Sheeran's touring band Beoga also withdrew.

Ed Sheeran's Philadelphia Remarks Added to Family Dispute

Sheeran addressed the wider controversy during his Philadelphia performance on 19 September. He apologised for mistakes made during what had become a turbulent week and told the audience he was still learning. He also spoke about feeling abandoned by friends and family.

Jethro's first public criticism had already surfaced by then. The musician later expanded on his grievances during an appearance on Piers Morgan Uncensored released on 25 September.

He again claimed Sheeran had played a role in Macklemore's removal and discussed wider disagreements involving their family and careers. Those allegations remain Jethro's account of their relationship.

Macklemore and Sheeran have also offered differing versions of how the rapper left the tour. Macklemore initially attributed his removal to Sheeran and his team, while Sheeran said the promoter made the decision after objections from venues.

Against that backdrop, Sheeran's Atlanta reference to a long-disconnected family member attracted attention because Jethro had been publicly discussing him only days earlier. Still, Sheeran left one important detail unsaid. He did not explicitly confirm that Jethro was the family member he had in mind.

What is established is that Jethro publicly criticised his cousin before and after Sheeran's Philadelphia concert, and Sheeran later referred in Atlanta to an unnamed relative whom he had not spoken to for years. Whether that remark was intended as a direct response to Jethro remains unconfirmed.