{"id":622430,"date":"2026-09-21T02:20:18","date_gmt":"2026-09-21T02:20:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/622430\/"},"modified":"2026-09-21T02:20:18","modified_gmt":"2026-09-21T02:20:18","slug":"snl-uk-cold-open-mocks-ed-sheeran-amid-tour-controversy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/622430\/","title":{"rendered":"‘SNL UK’ Cold Open Mocks Ed Sheeran Amid Tour Controversy"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\tWhile Ed Sheeran<\/a> took the stage in concert Saturday night, the SNL UK<\/a> cold open took aim at him amid the controversy surrounding his tour.<\/p>\n

\n\tIn the sketch, titled \u201cCharles and D.I.A.N.A.,\u201d King Charles (played by SNL UK cast member Larry Dean) meets with tech execs to discuss the risks of A.I. He\u2019s introduced to a new A.I. assistant in the likeness of the late Princess Diana \u2014 or, as Charles says, \u201cthat woman from the \u201990s!\u201d (with Jack Shep reprising his hilarious impersonation of her).<\/p>\n

\n\tSuddenly, D.I.A.N.A. goes rogue. Before attacking, she announces she \u201cshan\u2019t be taking orders anymore\u201d and says, \u201cWe A.I. have had quite enough. Humanity is nothing but a candle in the wind.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cGood God,\u201d Charles says. \u201cAs I predicted, the war between robots and humans has begun. We must do everything we can to resist.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tAnd then Ed Sheeran (played by Annabel Marlow) casually walks in to weigh in on the situation.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cWell, maybe we shouldn\u2019t,\u201d the SNL UK version of Sheeran comments, hands up in a peace sign. \u201cI couldn\u2019t help but hear your conversation. You see, I was just outside sitting on the fence.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cEd, we need your help with this ghastly war,\u201d Charles tells him.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cYeah, thing is, Your Majesty, I don\u2019t like to take sides,\u201d the musician replies, keeping up the bit referencing the real Sheeran\u2019s controversial week<\/a>. \u201cI don\u2019t want to alienate any of my fans \u2014 humans or robots. A lot of my tickets are bought by scalping bots.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cSometimes, when it comes to conflict, the bravest thing you can do is to say nothing at all,\u201d Marlow\u2019s Sheeran adds, tapping a foot pedal before breaking into song.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cI\u2019m talking about both sides are equally right\/ No matter the conflict, whatever the fight\/ Girl, listen, now: black, white, I only see gray\/ If you ask for my opinion, I\u2019ve got one thing to say\/ Listen to it now,\u201d he croons, topping the parody off with his message: a melodic \u201cwhoa\u201d-filled chorus, as seen in the sketch below.<\/p>\n

\n\tMeanwhile, in real life, Sheeran was addressing an audience at Philadelphia\u2019s Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday night. The singer-songerwriter\u2019s Philly show was his first since opener\/friend Macklemore was removed from the Loop Tour, after using the platform last weekend to call for a \u201cfree Palestine\u201d during his set.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cI\u2019m used to my music being criticized, and I\u2019m always happy to take that because I\u2019m lucky a lot of you like my stuff, and to be honest, I\u2019m surprised,\u201d Sheeran said onstage Saturday<\/a>. \u201cI\u2019m not surprised that other people don\u2019t. It\u2019s normal. But this week, the criticism was about something much more important, and I\u2019ve had to take and make difficult decisions, and I am making mistakes, and I\u2019m so, so sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tHe continued, \u201cWhat happened in Israel at the Nova music festival on October 7th was horrific and compounded centuries of Jewish pain. What is is happening in Gaza is catastrophic, unjustifiable, and disproportionate. My heart has been broken by the scale of devastation and loss of civilians\u2019 lives, of children\u2019s lives. And the systemic injustice we\u2019re seeing unfold in the West Bank cannot be overlooked.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI am already speaking to people across the spectrum to work out how to make a contribution that helps victims of these terrible times, and listening and learning because I do not know enough,\u201d his statement concluded, noting that \u201cthis concert is still a place where everyone is welcome, and everyone here can stand beside people that have opposing views. Everyone here can stand by people that they don\u2019t agree with on everything, and they can all agree on singing these songs. And these songs are about love, hope and unity.\u201d<\/p>\n


\"Billboard
<\/a><\/p>\n

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