Ed Sheeran's estranged cousin attacks him as Isaac Slade steps in to rescue the Loop Tour

From the Newshound archive · first published 4 October 2026 · last updated 5 October 2026.

Ed Sheeran's estranged cousin has launched a verbal attack on the singer just as his tour recovers from the Macklemore fallout, with Sheeran now responding publicly to the remarks. Former Fray frontman Isaac Slade performed at Saturday's Atlanta show at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, filling the slot left empty after Macklemore was axed and three other support acts quit in protest.

Macklemore was dropped after shouting 'Free Palestine' and performing protest song 'Hind's Hall' at Sheeran's New Jersey dates in September.

Aaron Rowe, Finneas, Lukas Graham and backing band Beoga all quit the tour in solidarity after Macklemore's removal.

Slade told the Atlanta crowd: 'What's happening over there is wrong but we're going to need people to step into that middle place.'