Ed Sheeran has become a recurring target on Saturday Night Live UK, with Amelia Dimoldenberg taking aim at the singer one week after the programme mocked his initial response to the controversy surrounding Macklemore's removal from his US tour.
Dimoldenberg targeted Sheeran during her opening monologue on 26 September, describing him as a 'world-famous red-headed puppet with a hand up his arse telling him what to say'. The joke followed an earlier SNL UK sketch portraying a fictional version of Sheeran as 'sitting on the fence' during a conflict between humans and artificial-intelligence robots. Both jokes followed scrutiny of Sheeran's response to Macklemore being removed from dates on the US leg of his Loop Tour.
SNL UK isn't letting up on Ed Sheeran. Here's host/'Chicken Shop Date' creator Amelia Dimoldenberg tonight. pic.twitter.com/yB0jgskK1s
— LateNighter (@latenightercom) September 26, 2026
Dimoldenberg Targets Ed Sheeran in SNL UK Monologue
Dimoldenberg introduced the joke while discussing celebrities she had interviewed through Chicken Shop Date. She said she had been 'incredibly privileged' to interview stars including Idris Elba and Cher before referring to a 'world-famous red-headed puppet with a hand up his arse telling him what to say'. A photograph of Sesame Street character Elmo initially appeared behind her.
'No, the other one,' Dimoldenberg said. The image then changed to a photograph of Dimoldenberg with Sheeran, who appeared on Chicken Shop Date in 2021. The joke did not identify who Dimoldenberg was suggesting might be influencing Sheeran. It came, however, after public discussion surrounding the singer's handling of Macklemore's removal from his tour.
SNL UK Previously Portrayed Sheeran as 'Sitting on the Fence'
The monologue marked the second consecutive week in which SNL UK used Sheeran as material. An earlier sketch imagined a conflict between humans and artificial-intelligence robots. Cast member Annabel Marlow portrayed Sheeran, complete with ginger hair, tattoos and a loop pedal. As other characters prepared to resist the robots, the fictional Sheeran was described as having been 'outside sitting on the fence'.
The character then resisted choosing between the two fictional sides. The sketch satirised Sheeran's initial public response to the controversy involving Macklemore. Its dialogue was fictional and should not be interpreted as statements actually made by Sheeran.
Why Macklemore Was Removed From Ed Sheeran's US Tour
Macklemore had been scheduled to appear on several US dates of Sheeran's Loop Tour.
The rapper performed at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on 4 and 5 September, where he made pro-Palestinian remarks during his sets.
During his 4 September appearance, Macklemore spoke about Gaza and the occupied West Bank. The following night, he reiterated his support for Palestinians while directly addressing Jewish members of the audience.
'Criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide in no way is a criticism of you,' Macklemore said on 5 September. 'My message is for peace, love; for all human beings to be treated with dignity, respect and equality.'
Following the performances, venues scheduled to host subsequent dates communicated that they would not proceed with the concerts if Macklemore remained on the lineup.
Macklemore alleged that New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, whose Kraft Group owns Gillette Stadium, was involved in opposition to his continued participation in the tour. Kraft characterised Macklemore's comments as part of what he described as a 'broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery'.
Macklemore, meanwhile, has maintained that his criticism is directed at Israel and its government's actions rather than Jewish people. In his 5 September remarks, he explicitly distinguished his criticism of Israel from criticism of Jewish audience members.
Sheeran subsequently said Macklemore's removal was not his decision. He said he attempted to broker conversations among the parties involved, but that the venues' and promoter's decision was final.
Ed Sheeran Later Apologises Over Handling of Controversy
The dispute continued after several performers withdrew from Sheeran's US tour in solidarity with Macklemore. Supporting acts Finneas, Lukas Graham and Aaron Rowe withdrew, while Irish band Beoga, which had been performing as Sheeran's touring band, also withdrew.
Sheeran later addressed the controversy during his 19 September concert in Philadelphia, where he performed following the withdrawals. He apologised for his handling of the situation and acknowledged that he had made mistakes.
'I've had to take and make difficult decisions, and I am making mistakes. I'm so, so sorry,' Sheeran said.
Sheeran also addressed the wider Israel-Gaza conflict. He described the Hamas-led attack on Israel on 7 October 2023 as 'horrific' while calling Israel's subsequent military campaign in Gaza 'catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate'.
He also criticised what he described as systemic injustice in the West Bank. Those remarks went further than his earlier comments as the controversy surrounding Macklemore's removal developed.
SNL UK Turns Sheeran Controversy Into a Running Joke
Dimoldenberg's 'red-headed puppet' remark came after Sheeran had expanded his public comments and apologised for his handling of the dispute. The first sketch satirised Sheeran's initial response to the controversy by portraying a fictional version of the singer unwilling to choose between humans and robots. Dimoldenberg's later joke was less specific.
Her monologue did not identify who was supposedly 'telling him what to say', and the line was delivered as comedy rather than as a factual allegation that another person or organisation controlled Sheeran's statements.
