Jeremy Clarkson slams Bake Off star for 'bullying' Ed Sheeran

Jeremy Clarkson has accused people piling pressure on Ed Sheeran following the Macklemore controversy of ‘bullying’ the singer.

His criticism comes after former Great British Bake Off winner Nadiya Hussain shared a video criticising Sheeran's emotional response to the row.

Hussain, who was crowned victorious on Bake Off in 2015, shared a video by therapist Megan Cooper with her Instagram followers earlier this week.

The clip accused Sheeran of using what it described as ‘white tears’ after he became emotional while addressing fans during a concert in Philadelphia.

Hussain did not add a comment of her own when sharing the video.

Cooper argued that ‘white tears’ can be used, consciously or otherwise, to deflect accountability and gain sympathy during discussions about racism and oppression.

She also criticised the singer for appearing to place himself at the centre of a wider issue.

The Great British Bake Off winner shared a video from another creator which criticised Ed Sheeran (Instagram/@nadiyajhussain)

Clarkson, writing about the controversy, took issue with the criticism directed at Sheeran.

"Former Great British Bake Off winner Nadiya Hussain has shared a video accusing Ed of crying 'white tears' during his tearful apology for whatever it is he's done," he wrote.

"White tears? I'm at a loss I'm afraid. I have literally no idea what's meant by this,” reports GB News.

He also said he believes the pressure placed on Sheeran has crossed a line.

“It’s bullying. There’s no other word for it,” he wrote in an earlier column.

He argued that the musician had been put under pressure to make public statements about Palestine despite not traditionally being an artist who comments extensively on political issues.

Clarkson also pointed to the impact the dispute has had on Sheeran's tour.

Several support acts withdrew, while reports suggested that the singer was uncertain whether the remaining concerts would go ahead.

It follows controversy after Macklemore was dropped from the tour (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)

Sheeran spoke about the turmoil from the stage at Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field, where he became visibly emotional.

“I've had to take and make difficult decisions, and I am making mistakes, and I'm so, so sorry,” he told the audience. He also described the previous week as an exceptionally difficult period and said he had felt that friends and family had abandoned him.

The row has developed into a wider argument over the responsibilities of musicians with large public platforms, particularly when major international conflicts become intertwined with the entertainment industry.

Sheeran has since spoken more directly about the situation.

During his Philadelphia performance, he said the war in Gaza was ‘unjustifiable’ and acknowledged that he had made mistakes.

He also told the crowd that his concerts should remain places where people with opposing views can stand alongside one another.

The singer's decision to continue the tour has nevertheless drawn criticism from some fellow performers and campaigners.

Charlotte Church has separately criticised Sheeran over his handling of the dispute, accusing him of choosing ‘consumerism and capitalism over doing the right thing’.

Hussain's decision to share Cooper's video made her part of an increasingly public debate about Sheeran's response, however, she did not explicitly endorse the video's claims.

It remains unclear whether she intended the repost as a personal comment or simply to share Cooper's argument with her followers.

The episode has also highlighted the difficulty faced by performers caught between personal views, professional relationships and demands from audiences to speak out on political issues.