Charlotte Church brands Ed Sheeran a greedy capitalist in stage rant before leading young fans in 'Free Palestine' chants as row over US tour rumbles on

- See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Charlotte Church has launched an extraordinary on-stage tirade against Ed Sheeran, branding him a greedy capitalist for failing to back Macklemore over Gaza. asserted

The controversial Welsh singer, 40, also issued a warning that his critics were 'watching' him as the bitter row over Israel and Palestine engulfed his Loop tour of the United States. asserted

Church, who has recently described herself as an advocate for the Palestinian people and publicly opposed the UK ban on Palestine Action, urged the Cardiff crowd, which included under-18s, to chant 'Free Palestine'. asserted

Ed Sheeran has faced fierce backlash after his Loop tour's opening act, Macklemore, was dropped over pro-Palestine comments he made at Sheeran's New Jersey shows earlier this month. asserted

He has broken down in tears on stage twice after his support acts quit in solidarity with the rapper, saying he made mistakes but was trying to keep politics out of his gigs because so many children attend them. But Church used her Cardiff gig this week to launch a ferocious attack on him, telling fans that Sheeran was putting money ahead of doing the 'right thing'. asserted

'Whilst he has made millions and has an enormous following, he has an enormous platform to do real good in the world. asserted

He chose consumerism and capitalism over doing the right thing,' Church said. asserted

'So we say the same thing to Ed Sheeran because f**k the fact [he says] that musicians shouldn't be involved in politics. asserted

She then added: 'Ed Sheeran, we're watching you,' repeating the phrase with her band at least four times before leading the South Wales audience in chants of 'Free Palestine'. asserted

Charlotte Church on stage at a gig in Cardiff where she launched into an anti-Ed Sheeran rant Church also warning that Sheeran his critics were 'watching' him as the bitter row over Israel and Palestine engulfed his Loop tour of the United States Last night the Daily Mail revealed how Bake Off star Nadiya Hussain publicised a video accusing Ed Sheeran of shedding 'white tears' and making himself 'the victim'. Hussain, a devout Muslim, has now shared a video with her one million Instagram followers alleging that Sheeran's tears were an example of 'white tears'. asserted

The video claimed: 'If the tears of Palestinians and Black, Brown and Indigenous communities carried as much gravity, genocide would not happen. asserted

' 'White tears' is a political term used by some activists and commentators to describe situations where a white person's emotional response is seen as drawing attention away from racism or oppression. asserted

The video shared by the former Great British Bake Off winner, who did not add any comment of her own, featured British therapist Megan Cooper saying: 'We're all waking up to Ed Sheeran's statement on stage, and I'm not going to go into what he said, but I do want to focus on one specific point. asserted

'For those of us in white bodies, we need to understand and educate ourselves on white tears. asserted

'White tears [are] a cultural tactic using emotion, consciously or unconsciously, to deflect accountability, to gain sympathy, and to centre self in conflict and challenge, particularly during discussions around racism and oppression.' asserted

Ms Cooper added that in this case, 'not only does emotion meet whiteness, but it also meets patriarchy. asserted

'What happens is we become the victim. asserted

Our emotion is now prized above the actual issue, in this case, genocide. asserted

What this shines a light on is whose tears get to be seen, listened to, and heard in our society, and whose don't.' asserted

The Mail has approached Ms Hussain for comment. asserted

Sheeran – who insists the decision to drop Macklemore was made by his promoter, not by himself – told fans in Philadelphia he had 'found out who his friends are', adding: 'I cannot hide how I feel... any more. asserted

' Nadiya Hussain appears to have backed claims that Ed Sheeran was shedding 'white tears' after the singer broke down on stage during his troubled US tour A visibly emotional Ed Sheeran teared up on stage as he apologised for his handling of the Israel controversy that has engulfed his new tour The singer admitted to making 'mistakes' in his handling of the situation and backtracked on his previous vow not to bring politics to his show as he called the situation in Gaza 'catastrophic and unjustifiable' and Hamas's October 7 attacks 'horrific'. In his first stage appearance since the Loop tour was plunged into turmoil, the father of two said he 'never wanted to be an activist musician' but the fierce criticism meant he has had to 'take and make difficult decisions'. uncertain

He said: 'I really didn't know whether this tour would be carrying on. asserted

In these situations, you really find out who your friends are and it's been a weird week. asserted

I just feel like it happened very quickly. asserted

In the back of my mind, I saw the ticket sales for this gig and I didn't see cancellations, I saw people buying tickets for this gig. asserted

Everyone's telling me to cancel and I'm feeling all of my friends and family and people I know abandon me. asserted

I look at the end of the week and I see 50,000 people who haven't abandoned me. asserted

People will say what they want, but I am doing this for you. asserted

I love you. asserted

I love this.' asserted

Sheeran said his heart had been broken 'by the scale of devastation and loss of lives' and became emotional as he told a cheering crowd: 'I'm so grateful you are here with me tonight.' asserted

He apologised and became visibly emotional again at the end of the show for bringing politics to his concert – something he had vowed not to do. asserted

Sheeran said at the end of the night: 'The one thing that I would like to apologise for is the first bit of the show where it wasn't about music and I had to talk. ' asserted

I understand that people have children here and I understand that families didn't buy a ticket to hear that first bit of the show, but that was something I felt like I needed to say.' The video shared by Hussain, who did not add any comment of her own, featured therapist Megan Cooper who spoke of Ed Sheeran and the need to learn about white tears Sheeran returned to the stage in Philadelphia on Saturday night for the first time since 43-year-old Macklemore, real name Benjamin Haggerty, was axed from the tour Sheeran had previously said that 'those who come to my shows do not expect a political forum'. asserted

The gig at the Lincoln Financial Field marked the first time the star returned to the stage since the rapper Macklemore was dropped as his opening act after taking a vocal stance in favour of a 'Free Palestine'. asserted

In a solemn speech at the start of the concert, Sheeran said: 'I have tried in my career not to be a political commentator of any kind because I want my music and shows to be about unity and not division, about humanity and not politics. asserted

But this is a humanitarian issue and I cannot hide how I feel about it anymore.' asserted

'What happened in Israel at Nova music festival on October 7 was horrific and compounded centuries of Jewish pain. asserted

'What is happening in Gaza is catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate,' Sheeran said in a video captured and shared online by a concertgoer. asserted