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U2 is legendary for speaking their minds, advocating for change and unabashedly speaking out to support causes they believe in. That's their bag, though, according to singer Bono. Asked by Rolling Stone UK to weigh in on the controversy surrounding Ed Sheeran's Loop tour and the dropping of rapper Macklemore over his chants of  Free Palestine  during two opening slots on the North American leg, Bono said the official statement from Sheeran about that incident tracked with his stance while recording  Yours Eternally  with U2 for this year's surprise Days of Ash EP.

 I would say with Ed and Macklemore that we shouldn't personalize this, what's going on,  Bono said of the fallout from Macklemore's statements, which resulted in the rest of the tour's opening acts, as well as Sheeran's onstage backing band, leaving the tour.  [Producer]Brian Eno said today that pop stars are like little fish in a large sea of huge forces and religion and politics … And so I don't want to dwell on Ed and Macklemore and that incident. 

After calls for Macklemore's removal reached a fever pitch, Sheeran issued a statement in which he said that while he was  appalled by the conflict between Israel and Palestine  and suffering and pain on both sides, after speaking to venues hosting the shows in an attempt to  build a bridge,  Macklemore being removed was the promoter's decision, not his.

Saying his shows are about bringing people together in  unity, joy, escapism [and] love,  Sheeran added,  I am not complicit. I have my personal views on this devastating conflict. Just because I choose not to speak publicly, it doesn't mean I don't have them, and it doesn't mean I don't care. 

That choice to let his music do the talking is keeping with Bono's experience working with Sheeran as well on  Yours Eternally,  which featured Ukrainian soldier-turned-musician Tara Topolia on the song written from the perspective of a letter written from an active-duty soldier on the front lines of war.

Bono said Sheeran asked him,   You're not going to get me into politics, are you?'  Bono told the mag he repl

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