Irish musician CMAT believes Ed Sheeran’s recent assertion of identifying as Irish exacerbated the controversy surrounding Macklemore’s inclusion on a St. Patrick's Festival lineup in the Republic of Ireland. CMAT stated Sheeran "was given really bad advice" regarding publicly aligning himself with Irish identity. She suggests this declaration inadvertently fueled criticism directed toward Macklemore, as it raised questions about what constitutes authentic Irish representation. The situation arose after Macklemore was added to the lineup for the St. Patrick's Festival in Dublin, sparking debate about whether an American artist should be included in a celebration of Irish culture. CMAT’s comments imply that Sheeran’s background further complicated a situation that was already sensitive. The artist’s statement seemingly opened the door for increased scrutiny and questioning of the festival’s selection choices.