Bono says Sheeran resisted politics on U2 collaboration

Bono said Ed Sheeran was wary of political framing while the two worked with U2 on “Yours Eternally,” recounting that Sheeran asked whether the collaboration would draw him into politics and said he wanted to keep his work free of that involvement. Bono described the exchange in an interview, making clear the account of Sheeran’s private remarks comes from him. The song, released as part of U2’s “Days of Ash” EP earlier in 2026, features Ukrainian musician Taras Topalia and is written from the perspective of a Ukrainian soldier. Bono said he told Sheeran that the soldier who inspired the song admired him. Sheeran replied, according to Bono, that he wanted to keep his own work free. Bono said the exchange reinforced that artists should not be pushed into taking positions. The account comes amid discussion of Sheeran’s decision not to speak publicly about the Israel-Gaza conflict and the removal of rapper Macklemore from Sheeran’s U.S. tour. In a public statement, Sheeran said Macklemore’s removal was the promoters’ decision, not his. He also said that choosing not to speak publicly did not mean he lacked personal views or did not care.