Amelia Dimoldenberg calls Ed Sheeran a ‘red-headed puppet’ in savage SNL UK monologue

Amelia Dimoldenberg publicly branded Ed Sheeran a “world-famous red-headed puppet” during her Saturday Night Live UK opening monologue this week.

The comedian, 32, was reflecting on the end of her YouTube interview series Chicken Shop Date when she decided to take a swipe at Sheeran, whose name has been splashed across headlines over the Macklemore concert drama.

“I’ve been incredibly privileged to have done so many interviews with people like Idris Elba, Cher and even a world-famous, red-headed puppet with a hand up his ass telling him what to say,” she began, with a photo of herself and Elmo from Sesame Street on-screen.

"No, the other one," she continued.

An image of Dimoldenberg and Sheeran, 35, during a 2021 interview from her series then flashed up on-screen instead.

The comedian stayed quiet as the audience erupted in laughter, with some clearly stunned she'd chosen to publicly call him out in front of the nation.

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Ed Sheeran forced to cancel shows at the centre of Macklemore controversy

The SNL jab comes after Sheeran’s Loop tour faced controversy following the removal of musician Macklemore as a support act over his “Free Palestine” comments. The rest of Sheeran’s support acts later quit the tour in solidarity.

Macklemore, whose real name is Benjamin Hammond Haggerty, claimed New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft rallied other stadium owners to give Sheeran an “ultimatum” over the rapper’s involvement.

He also revealed he and Sheeran had a “painful disagreement” over the singer’s “typical apolitical stance”.

“We’ve had some difficult conversations this past week. The type of talks rooted in love and respect for one another that still end in a place of fundamental disagreement,” Macklemore wrote in a statement.

Sheeran denied making the call to remove Macklemore, saying he spent days speaking with venues to resolve the situation.

“Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter’s decision, it was not mine. Macklemore’s contract for the tour was with the promoter, not me,” he said.

“I would never let down the fans who had made plans, nor would I abandon the touring crew and the other support acts and musicians who rely on me for work and to make a living.”

During his first show after the scandal, Sheeran said he had been “abandoned” by his own family and friends over the situation, but he still got on stage to perform for the 50,000 people who “didn’t abandon him”.