{"id":778210,"date":"2026-09-21T21:40:13","date_gmt":"2026-09-21T21:40:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/778210\/"},"modified":"2026-09-21T21:40:13","modified_gmt":"2026-09-21T21:40:13","slug":"snl-uk-takes-aim-at-ed-sheeran-and-wealthy-corpse-maxxer-robert-kraft-amid-palestine-controversy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/778210\/","title":{"rendered":"‘SNL UK’ takes aim at Ed Sheeran and “wealthy corpse-maxxer” Robert Kraft amid Palestine controversy"},"content":{"rendered":"

Saturday Night Live<\/a> UK poked fun at the ongoing Ed Sheeran<\/a>-Palestine controversy over the weekend. Watch the videos below.<\/p>\n

In the \u2018Weekend Update\u2019 news segment of the show, Ania Magliano joked that \u201cthe Israel-Palestine conflict just got serious\u201d as she and co-host Paddy Young delved into the backlash Sheeran has faced of late.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s right \u2013 Ed Sheeran\u2019s US tour is under threat!\u201d she continued. \u201cSheeran\u2019s support act, Macklemore, was dropped after saying \u2018Free Palestine\u2019 on stage<\/a>. Will Sheeran have to cancel the tour? There\u2019s a very real risk that he won\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

She continued: \u201cGenuinely, though \u2013 this crisis is the worst thing that has happened to Ed Sheeran fans since their head injury.\u201d<\/p>\n

Magliano then turned her attention to \u201cgood guy with bad music Macklemore<\/a>\u201c, discussing how the artist had been \u201cdropped at the insistence of pro-Israel billionaire Robert Kraft\u201d.<\/p>\n

Later, Young took aim at Kraft \u2013 who owns Massachusetts\u2019 Gillette Stadium, where Sheeran is scheduled to play two concerts later this week. He called him a \u201cwealthy corpse-maxxer\u201d before digging into his \u201cchequered past\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo his credit, Sheeran \u2013 seen here looking at both sides of the issue \u2013 has been a longstanding supporter of Ukraine<\/a>,\u201d Young went on. \u201cSay what you want about Ed, but he\u2019s always been a passionate advocate of causes that are allowed.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Elsewhere on the latest SNL UK, \u2018Sheeran\u2019 appeared in a sketch about King Charles and the late Princess Diana. \u201cI couldn\u2019t help but overhear your conversation,\u201d he told the pair. \u201cYou see, I was just outside sitting on the fence.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2018King Charles\u2019 then told \u2018Sheeran\u2019: \u201cEd, we need your help with this ghastly war!\u201d<\/p>\n

He responded: \u201cHmm, yeah. Thing is, Your Majesty, I don\u2019t like to take sides. I don\u2019t want to alienate any of my fans \u2013 humans or robots. A lot of my tickets are bought by scalping bots.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2018Sheeran\u2019 began strumming his acoustic guitar, adding: \u201cSometimes, when it comes to conflicts, the bravest thing you can do is just say nothing at all! He then sang a song about how \u201cboth sides are equally right\/ No matter the conflict, whatever the fight\u201c.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Macklemore was\u00a0dropped from Sheeran\u2019s \u2018Loop\u2019 tour over his impassioned \u201cfree Palestine\u201d speech <\/a>while opening for Sheeran at New Jersey\u2019s MetLife Stadium earlier this month.<\/p>\n

The comments sparked calls<\/a> for his removal from the likes of Pink<\/a> and the Israeli American Council, with Robert Kraft later saying that he found Macklemore\u2019s speech \u201cdeeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community\u201d<\/a>, resulting in his dismissal.<\/p>\n

All of Sheeran\u2019s support acts and backing band subsequently dropped out of the tour<\/a>, with FINNEAS<\/a>, Lukas Graham<\/a>, Aaron Rowe and Beoga all making statements in support of Macklemore.<\/p>\n

Sheeran himself spoke out about the situation<\/a>, saying he was \u201cnot complicit\u201d and was \u201cappalled by the conflict between Israel and Palestine\u201d and saw the \u201csuffering and pain caused on both sides\u201d as a \u201ctragedy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"EdEd Sheeran press image 2025. CREDIT: Petros Studio<\/p>\n

On Saturday night \u2013 after the skits aired on SNL UK \u2013 Sheeran resumed his tour in Philadelphia, with a new backing band<\/a>. The musician acknowledged the criticism he had received over the past week, and apologised for \u201cmaking mistakes\u201d<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t want to disappoint fans, and I\u2019ve never wanted to be an activist musician, but this has put me in the middle of an important and passionate argument about freedom of speech and the most complex political issue on the planet,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Sheeran added that he was \u201calready speaking to people across the spectrum to work out how to make a contribution that helps victims of these terrible times\u201d, and told the audience he was \u201clistening and learning because I do not know enough\u201d.<\/p>\n

Later in the gig, Sheeran revealed the extent to which the controversy had affected him, saying he had considered whether to continue the tour \u2013 and his career. He also revealed that he had removed the usual B-stage from his set-up<\/a> because\u00a0he was \u201cafraid of what might happen\u201d if he stood in the middle of the crowd.<\/p>\n

\u203c\ufe0f| HQ video of Ed Sheeran\u2019s full speech before his show tonight in Philadelphia pic.twitter.com\/K8uElEtT8U<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Ed Sheeran Access (@AccessEdSheeran) September 20, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Sheeran\u2019s former support act\u00a0Aaron Rowe\u00a0has said people should direct their anger towards \u201cthe likes of Robert Kraft\u201d<\/a>. Elsewhere, Billy Bragg doubled down on his criticism of the singer-songwriter<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not impressed by Ed Sheeran\u2019s attempt to deflect the current storm of criticism he is facing by promising to donate $2m to \u2018aid in the region\u2019 of the Middle East,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not just the ambiguity around the phrase itself, which hopes to avoid offending anyone by cloaking the sentiment in vagueness. It\u2019s the idea that you can buy back your integrity.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ed Sheeran\u2019s \u2018Loop\u2019 tour is set to continue in North America until early November, before he heads to South America and Mexico City later that month and into December.<\/p>\n