Listen to this article
Estimated 4 minutes
The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.
Ed Sheeran is set to take the stage in Philadelphia on Saturday night for the first time since facing backlash for rapper Macklemore’s removal from his tour for making pro-Palestinian comments on stage.
All of Sheeran’s remaining supporting acts and backing band have quit his tour after Macklemore was ousted earlier this week and Sheeran attributed Macklemore’s removal solely to venues and promoters while defending his decision to remain apolitical.
Sheeran has not said anything publicly since losing the artists’ support.
However, Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft, who allegedly led efforts to remove Macklemore as Sheeran’s opening act, said Wednesday he is now donating $2 million US to “aid in the region” at the singer-songwriter’s request.
As of Friday, tickets were still available for Saturday’s show, and Sheeran’s website did not list any replacement acts. A coalition of pro-Palestinian organizations plans to protest outside the show Saturday afternoon.
Macklemore was dropped from the U.S. leg of the English singer-songwriter’s tour after chanting “Free Palestine” and expressing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza and the Israeli-occupied West Bank during a Sept. 5 show in New Jersey.
Macklemore’s ouster from Ed Sheeran’s world tour over his support for Palestinians continued to snowball as other opening acts, and Sheeran’s own backing band, quit in solidarity. Macklemore was dropped after calling for a ‘Free Palestine’ and referring to the war in Gaza as ‘genocide’ live on stage.
Sheeran said venues had threatened to pull his upcoming performances if Macklemore was not removed as his opening act because of “how Macklemore conveyed part of his message during his performance.”
“Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter’s decision, it was not mine. Macklemore’s contract for the tour was with the promoter, not me,” Sheeran said in his statement.
He added that while he tried to “build a bridge,” the venues would not change their minds.
Kraft, who owns the New England Patriots, was one of the people behind the call for Macklemore’s removal, Sheeran confirmed.
Kraft, a staunch supporter of Israel, said in a statement shared with CBC News Monday that his stadium would “not provide a platform for hate speech,” stating Macklemore spread divisiveness through “selective information and ignoring the actions of Hamas.”
Macklemore had blamed his removal on Kraft in an Instagram post, claiming the billionaire said the rapper would not be allowed onstage and rallied other stadium owners to threaten to cancel scheduled concerts if he was not taken off the bill. The threats placed Sheeran, his friend, in a difficult position, Macklemore said.
Sheeran takes apolitical stance
Many of Sheeran’s supporting acts said they were withdrawing from his tour to stand in solidarity with Palestinians.
In his statement, Sheeran said he was “appalled by the conflict between Israel and Palestine,” and called the suffering on “both sides” a “human tragedy.”
But he defended his choice not to express his views on the conflict publicly.
“I am not complicit. I have my personal views on this devastating conflict,” he wrote.
“Just because I choose not to speak publicly, it doesn’t mean I don’t have them, and it doesn’t mean I don’t care.”
While promoters and venues wield great power over concert tours, experts say an artist of Sheeran’s magnitude generally has the final say about what happens concerning the shows.
It remains to be seen how Sheeran will handle the performance at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field given the departure of his opening acts and supporting band. Sheeran has performed much of his Loop Tour concerts solo, but he had been joined for several songs at each stop by the Irish folk band Beoga.
Sheeran’s other U.S. openers, Danish band Lukas Graham and Irish singer Aaron Rowe, also annouced they were leaving the tour.
Finneas, Billie Eilish’s brother and musical collaborator, was due to tour with Sheeran in South America later this year before he too dropped out earlier this week.
