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Ed Sheeran’s Macklemore Fallout Comes Back to Bite Him Personally

Four opening acts have reportedly withdrawn as the tour backlash grows, and Sheeran says the Macklemore removal was not his decision.

  • British singer Ed Sheeran removed rapper Macklemore from his remaining Loop Tour dates following pressure from stadium venue owners over the artist's pro-Palestinian stage remarks.
  • Macklemore sparked controversy in early September when he performed his protest song 'Hind's Hall' and advocated for 'Free Palestine' during shows in New Jersey, drawing immediate backlash from venue owners and Jewish organizations.
  • Robert Kraft, owner of Gillette Stadium, issued an ultimatum to Sheeran, citing Macklemore's comments as hate speech and referencing a 2014 incident. NFL owners Arthur Blank of the Atlanta Falcons and Jeffrey Lurie of the Philadelphia Eagles reportedly agreed with Kraft's position.
  • Opening acts Finneas, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe, and Beoga withdrew from the tour in solidarity with Macklemore on Tuesday. Sheeran has reportedly lost around 200,000 Instagram followers amid the fallout.
  • Ahead of his Philadelphia concert on Saturday, Sheeran stated he 'was not complicit' in the removal decision, claiming promoter Messina Touring Group handled it. The tour faces ongoing uncertainty as it resumes this weekend.
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The announcement came after his departure from the tour and opened a new chapter in the contest surrounding the concerts.

·Warsaw, Poland
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The Independent broke the news in London, United Kingdom on Friday, September 18, 2026.
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