Ed Sheeran faced a sharp rebuke during the September 26, 2026, broadcast of SNL UK, where host Amelia Dimoldenberg used her opening monologue to mock the pop star over the ongoing controversy surrounding his Loop Tour. Dimoldenberg, the 32-year-old creator and former host of the interview series Chicken Shop Date, targeted Sheeran’s handling of the backlash that followed the decision to drop opening act Macklemore.
Amelia Dimoldenberg’s Monologue on SNL UK
During her opening speech on the Sky One variety series, Dimoldenberg delivered a pointed comparison regarding Sheeran’s public silence and subsequent tour adjustments.
The audience responded with laughs and cheers, backing Dimoldenberg’s critique of the singer. The roast targeted Sheeran’s delayed reaction to the dismissal of Macklemore from the Loop Tour lineup. Macklemore, 43, was dropped by the tour’s management company after chanting “Free Palestine” during two concerts at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
The Tour Controversy and Sheeran’s Public Apology
The friction intensified after Macklemore claimed he received an ultimatum from billionaire Robert Kraft, threatening that the tour would not be permitted to continue at Gillette Stadium if the rapper remained on the bill. Sheeran initially stated that removing Macklemore was the promoter’s decision rather than his own, drawing criticism for avoiding direct responsibility.
By September 19, 2026, at a concert in Philadelphia, Sheeran addressed the audience directly, apologizing for mistakes and acknowledging the complex nature of the public debate. “This week, the criticism was about something much more important, and I’ve had to take [it in] and make difficult decisions, and I am making mistakes, and I’m so so sorry,” Sheeran told the crowd, according to Us Magazine. During the same Philadelphia performance, the singer debuted a new backing band after his previous support acts and musicians voluntarily exited the tour in solidarity with Macklemore. Sheeran also noted that certain songs “just don’t work on the loop pedal,” necessitating the addition of live musicians.
Weather Cancellations at Gillette Stadium
As the tour progressed without support acts, logistical challenges emerged alongside the PR fallout. Sheeran was scheduled to perform two concerts at Robert Kraft’s Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, over the weekend following the SNL UK broadcast. However, both performances were officially canceled due to a severe nor’easter striking the region, halting the singer’s return to the stage.
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