Taylor Swift hasn’t publicly spoken out in support of her close friend Ed Sheeran as controversy over Macklemore's removal has engulfed Sheeran's latest tour.Sheeran has faced scrutiny from some pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel activists, after his tour promoter and venues dropped rapper Macklemore from his Loop Tour following Macklemore’s onstage chants of "Free Palestine" earlier this month.Meanwhile, groups including StopAntisemitism and the Combat Antisemitism Movement called for his removal, while singer Pink criticized Macklemore's performance.MACKLEMORE DOUBLES DOWN AFTER GETTING KICKED OFF ED SHEERAN TOUR AFTER PRO-PALESTINE STANCEEd Sheeran responds to Macklemore's claims over tour removal.(Getty Images)It was during his opening set on the tour at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium that the Grammy-winning Macklemore also described Israel’s actions using terms such as "genocide" and "apartheid."Since the dust-up, Sheeran released a statement addressing the situation, saying the decision to remove Macklemore was made by the tour’s promoters and venues, not by him personally.
He also noted his desire to continue the tour and not let down fans or crew members who rely on his concerts for their income.That was followed by four of his tour openers withdrawing from his concerts in solidarity with Macklemore, while also noting their own opposition to what they described as genocide in Gaza.Macklemore notably drew fierce criticism in 2014 when he donned what appeared to be an antisemitic costume caricaturing Jewish people, although he claimed it was unintentional. As Sheeran has been navigating one of the most public controversies of his career, his longtime friend and collaborator Swift has been quiet, reflective of a career where she's generally, but not always, stayed out of political strife.ED SHEERAN FACES GROWING BACKLASH AS RADIO STATION BANS SONGS, PROTEST GROUPS RESPOND TO MACKLEMORE'S REMOVALTaylor Swift and Ed Sheeran perform onstage during "Taylor ...