Ed Sheeran Tour Unravels After Macklemore’s Removal

Ed Sheeran’s North American “Loop” tour, launched as a stadium run for his eighth studio album, *Play*, is now at the center of an unprecedented industry crisis involving corporate venue ownership, tour promotion, and political expression. The supporting lineup has collapsed after Macklemore was removed, with artists framing the dispute as a fight over corporate policing of pro-Palestinian advocacy.

The tour’s next scheduled stop is this Saturday at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field, the home of the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles. Venue officials said the concert will proceed, although the opening acts have not been finalized after the sudden departure of the billed performers.

The dispute began at Sheeran’s Sept. 4 and 5 concerts at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Macklemore used his opening set to condemn Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, accusing the nation of committing genocide against Palestinians. His performance included the protest song “Hind’s Hall” and a backdrop video featuring college campus encampments, protest footage, and military strikes in Gaza.

Macklemore wrote “Hind’s Hall” in solidarity with student demonstrations and released it in May 2024. The song takes its name from Columbia University’s Hamilton Hall, which students briefly occupied and unofficially renamed for Hind Rajab, a six-year-old Palestinian girl killed with her family by Israeli military fire in Gaza City. Macklemore has pledged all proceeds from the song to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).

The MetLife appearance drew condemnation from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), the Israeli American Council (IAC), and the watchdog group StopAntisemitism. The IAC petitioned for Macklemore’s removal, arguing that performers should not turn mainstream stages into “political propaganda.” Pink, who is Jewish, amplified criticism by sharing a post about the performance before clarifying that her concern involved imagery and messaging she believed targeted Jewish concertgoers.

Macklemore said promoter Messina Touring Group officially dropped him from the tour. In a statement, the Seattle-born rapper described the events behind his ouster, saying Sheeran told him that billionaire Robert Kraft had threatened to bar the tour from his venue and encourage other stadium owners to do the same unless Macklemore was removed from the bill.

Kraft Group owns Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Kraft, who also owns the New England Patriots and the New England Revolution, established the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism (FCAS) in 2019. The organization launched the high-profile “$StandUpToJewishHate” blue square campaign. After the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks on Israel and the subsequent military offensive in Gaza, Kraft has repeatedly criticized speech and protests he considers antisemitic or hostile to Israel.

Sheeran confirmed that he had conversations with Kraft but did not explicitly address the alleged ultimatum. Instead, the British singer-songwriter attributed Macklemore’s removal to Messina Touring Group, an affiliate of AEG Presents led by veteran promoter Louis Messina. Messina Touring Group said it ended Macklemore’s contract “after discussions with stakeholders.”

The decision immediately prompted other performers to leave. Finneas O’Connell, the producer, solo artist, and brother of Billie Eilish, withdrew from the tour after publicly advocating for Gazan civilians and signing the Artists4Ceasefire letter, which urged the U.S. government to facilitate an immediate ceasefire.

Danish pop band Lukas Graham, known for the multi-platinum single “7 Years,” criticized the role of wealthy stakeholders in public discourse, writing that “nobody’s bank balance should decide who gets to speak.” Irish singer-songwriter Aaron Rowe, a long-time friend of Sheeran, also withdrew. He cited Ireland’s history of colonization, famine, and occupation as the basis for his solidarity with Palestinians and accused “elites” of using their leverage to suppress dissent.

Sheeran’s long-time backing band, the Irish folk group Beoga, pulled out as well. Beoga previously co-wrote and performed on “Galway Girl,” Sheeran’s hit from his 2017 album *÷*. Their departure, along with those of Finneas, Lukas Graham, and Aaron Rowe, left promoters scrambling as the tour moved toward Philadelphia.

Under scrutiny over his handling of the dispute, Sheeran issued an Instagram statement defending his career-long apolitical stance. The singer behind “The A Team,” “Thinking Out Loud,” and “Shape of You” said his concerts are intended to bring diverse audiences together rather than function as political forums. He wrote that private views about the conflict do not amount to complicity or indifference, adding that shouting the loudest is not the only way to work toward peace.

Macklemore answered by announcing that he would donate all earnings from his two MetLife Stadium performances to Palestinian humanitarian charities and challenging Robert Kraft to match the donation. Macklemore became globally known in 2012 with producer Ryan Lewis through their debut album *The Heist*, which produced “Thrift Shop” and “Same Love.” The album won four Grammys in 2014, including Best Rap Album over Kendrick Lamar’s *Good Kid, M.A.A.D City*.

The North American leg of Sheeran’s tour began in June 2026 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. It is scheduled to continue through November 7, ending at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.