AOC says Ed Sheeran is 'not the only issue' in Macklemore tour controversy
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has weighed in on the controversy surrounding Macklemore's removal from Ed Sheeran's concert tour.
On September 15, AOC spoke with Charlie about the situation and said the focus should not only be on Sheeran, but also on Robert Kraft and stadium owners.
Fans recently learned that Macklemore would no longer be part of Sheeran's concert lineup. Sheeran later explained that he wanted the rapper to remain on the tour, but the venues did not give him permission.
AOC has now offered her take on the fallout, saying the situation raises wider questions about free speech and the role of stadium owners.
🗣️ Rep. AOC tells @hicharliecotton she is boycotting Ed Sheeran because she says he's complicit in Robert Kraft and other stadium owners' efforts to silence Macklemore. pic.twitter.com/zuISc3zaFs
— TMZ (@TMZ) September 15, 2026
AOC calls out Robert Kraft over Macklemore exit
While discussing Macklemore's removal from the tour, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said Ed Sheeran was only one part of the issue.
AOC specifically pointed to Robert Kraft and the stadium owners, saying their role deserved attention.
She said, "We need to be very clear about how dangerous a precedent this is."
The congresswoman also said she would change the channel whenever Ed Sheeran comes on the radio, adding to the discussion around the singer's involvement in the controversy.
Her comments have now brought a political angle to the controversy, which began with Macklemore's departure from Sheeran's concert lineup.
AOC raises free speech concerns over Macklemore exit
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also criticized the stadium owners connected to Ed Sheeran's tour, accusing them of censoring speech related to the ongoing situation in Gaza.
She argued that the situation was about more than Macklemore being removed from a concert lineup.
AOC said the involvement of multiple stadiums raised bigger questions about speech at major venues.
"It's not just what has happened with the act and not just in removing Macklemore from the lineup, but when you see what Robert Kraft did to line up all of the stadiums to censor speech in that one specific way, it's become clear that this is not just about one music artist or two music artists," she said.
AOC again pointed to what she called a dangerous precedent, saying the controversy should be viewed as something beyond the two musicians involved.
Ed Sheeran tour moves forward without Macklemore
Ed Sheeran's tour is set to resume on Friday, September 19, 2026, without Macklemore as part of the lineup.
The singer has faced backlash over the situation and recently addressed the controversy.
Sheeran explained that he wanted Macklemore to remain part of the tour, but the venues did not give him permission.
That explanation has not stopped criticism surrounding Macklemore's departure.
Macklemore has also spoken about Sheeran's position in the controversy. While discussing the situation, the rapper said the songwriter was in a "bad position."
