Ed Sheeran’s US tour was thrown into disarray after rapper Macklemore was dropped from the lineup following pro-Palestinian comments onstage, prompting all of Sheeran’s remaining supporting acts to quit in solidarity.
During Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour stop at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on September 5, opener Macklemore addressed the crowd before performing his song “Hind’s Hall,” a protest track referencing the war in Gaza.
“To all of my Jewish brothers and sisters, criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide, it in no way is criticism of you,” he said on stage while images from Gaza were displayed on the venue’s screens.
Why Macklemore was dropped from the tour
According to Macklemore, several venues scheduled to host the remaining tour dates told promoters they would refuse to let him perform as Sheeran’s opener if he remained on the lineup.
Tour promoter Messina Touring Group confirmed to Rolling Stone that venues had threatened to cancel entire shows unless Macklemore was removed.
One of the venues involved, Gillette Stadium, is owned by the Kraft Group, led by New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft. In a statement, Kraft said the decision to remove Macklemore stemmed from his recent comments onstage.
Sheeran, for his part, said the decision to drop Macklemore came from the tour’s promoters, not from him personally.
He has now been publicly criticized also by his own cousin, Jethro Sheeran. In a lengthy post, Jethro didn’t hold back, writing, “Finally it’s all coming out! I’m ashamed of my Cousin Ed and what he’s done. Finally the world and all his fans see through him. He’s not a good person. He’s honestly a selfish individual with malicious, cunning ways.”
Jethro went further, directly disputing Ed’s account of the Macklemore decision, writing, “He is shady and he’s dropped Macklemore himself, I believe 100% he’s a coward. In my opinion he’s a bad human.”
The two cousins reportedly have a strained history dating back years, with Jethro claiming Ed previously “screwed him over” and mocked his mental health struggles after finding fame, and that lawyers for Warner Music once threatened him with legal action over a remixed song that used Ed’s name and image.
Other acts quickly quit the tour in solidarity
Word of Macklemore’s removal quickly prompted a wave of departures. Two planned replacement acts, Danish band Lukas Graham and Irish singer Aaron Rowe, both withdrew before ever performing as his substitutes.
Irish folk band Beoga, who had been joining Sheeran onstage for several songs each night, also stepped down. Finneas, who had been set to join Sheeran for upcoming South American tour dates later this year, pulled out as well.
Rowe explained his decision in an Instagram post: “I have made the decision to withdraw as a support act for Ed Sheeran’s ‘The Loop’ North American Tour. I don’t take the decision lightly. Ed has been a friend to me and has changed my life, I could never thank him enough for this. But as Irish people we know all too well about genocide, forced famine and violent occupation. I cannot stand by and allow billionaires to use their position of power to silence the rightful voices of those who speak up against Israeli genocide and who highlight the savage murder of children.”
Financial gestures from both sides of the dispute
Macklemore announced this week that he’s donating $1 million toward Palestinian relief efforts and publicly called on Kraft to match the donation. A spokesperson for Kraft said both Kraft and Sheeran have agreed to donate $2 million each, though it hasn’t been specified where those funds will go.
Sheeran is set to resume his tour Saturday night at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, likely performing solo given the departure of his supporting acts and house band.
The show’s start time has been pushed back two and a half hours to accommodate the change.
Pro-Palestinian groups, including the Palestine Coalition, have announced plans to demonstrate near the stadium ahead of the concert. Philadelphia police say they’re coordinating with concert organizers on security and will monitor the protest as it unfolds.
Sheeran’s Loop Tour has been the highest-grossing tour in the world this year, and he remains one of the top-earning concert acts of the past several years.
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