New York – Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour of North and South America has been thrown into turmoil after a cascade of departures left the British singer without opening acts or his usual backing band.
The crisis began with the removal of rapper Macklemore over onstage pro-Palestinian comments and rapidly escalated as fellow artists quit in solidarity.
Yet the shows have continued, with Sheeran performing solo in Philadelphia and addressing the controversy head-on, apologizing for mistakes while insisting the decision was not his alone.
(Source: apnews.com)
The rupture started in early September 2026 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Macklemore, serving as an opener, performed his protest song “Hind’s Hall,” displayed images related to Gaza, and declared “Free Palestine” to the crowd.
He framed his remarks as support for Palestinians and criticism of Israel’s actions in the conflict, while distinguishing them from antisemitism.
The comments drew swift backlash from groups including StopAntisemitism and the Israeli-American Council, as well as some public figures.
(Source: nytimes.com)
Venue owners soon intervened.
Robert Kraft, the billionaire owner of the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium, objected strongly.
He and other stadium stakeholders notified the tour’s promoter, Messina Touring Group, that upcoming dates would not proceed with Macklemore on the bill, citing concerns over what they described as hate speech or selective messaging that ignored Hamas’s actions.
On September 14, Macklemore announced he had been dropped after difficult conversations with Sheeran’s team that ended in fundamental disagreement.
He later pledged to donate his tour earnings to Palestinian charities.
(Source: bbc.co.uk)
Sheeran responded on Instagram the next day.
He stressed that “Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter’s decision, it was not mine,” noting that the rapper’s contract was with the promoter.
Sheeran said venues had contacted him after the New Jersey shows and refused to budge despite efforts to “build a bridge.”
He argued he would not let down fans who had made plans or abandon the touring crew and other acts who depended on the work.
“Those who come to my shows do not expect a political forum,” he added, while stating he was appalled by the conflict’s suffering on both sides and had personal views he preferred not to air publicly as a political commentator.
(Source: apnews.com)
The statement backfired. Within hours, the remaining supporting acts announced their exits.
Irish singer-songwriter Aaron Rowe, who was set to open remaining U.S. dates, thanked Sheeran but said he could not stand by while “billionaires use their position of power” to silence criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza, adding “Free Palestine.”
Danish band Lukas Graham similarly withdrew, stating they could not continue “as things stand” and affirming the need to speak about civilian deaths and children.
Finneas, brother and collaborator of Billie Eilish and scheduled for South American dates, declared: “Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed.
“I have decided to withdraw from my upcoming tour dates with Ed Sheeran.
“I stand with Palestine and its people.”
Most critically for the nightly show, Irish folk band Beoga, who joined Sheeran onstage for several songs (including some they co-wrote), also quit, citing venues that silence advocacy for a free Palestine.
(Source: bbc.co.uk)
The exodus left Sheeran without openers for the remaining North American dates and without his established mid-set collaborators.
Ticket prices for some shows reportedly dropped amid uncertainty, and speculation swirled about possible cancellations.
Outside the first post-controversy show at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on September 19, a small group of pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered with flags and chants.
Fan reactions online and in media coverage proved mixed: some expressed frustration at the politicisation of a typically apolitical pop show and supported continuing for the crew and ticket-holders; others criticized Sheeran for perceived neutrality or complicity and praised the departing artists.
Attendance held firm enough that Sheeran later noted strong ticket sales rather than mass cancellations.
(Source: nytimes.com)
The show did go on. With no supporting acts, the Philadelphia concert started later than scheduled.
Sheeran took the stage alone at first, later joined for a few songs by a hastily assembled new group of musicians who had only days to learn the material.
He opened by acknowledging the week’s intensity.
“I’ve had to take and make difficult decisions — and I am making mistakes — and I’m so, so sorry,” he told the crowd of around 50 000.
He described the October 7, 2023, attacks as “horrific” and compounding Jewish pain, while calling the situation in Gaza “catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate,” with broken hearts over civilian and children’s lives and injustices in the West Bank.
He maintained that his shows aim for unity across races, religions, and politics rather than serving as a political forum, and expressed concern about venues pre-approving performers’ content.
(Source: nytimes.com)
Sheeran revealed the personal toll: people around him urged cancellation, longtime friends and associates backed away, and he briefly questioned whether he wanted to continue as an artist.
Seeing fans still buying tickets and showing up strengthened his resolve.
He later called the Philadelphia performance one of the best of his life despite the “worst week.”
As of late September 2026, the Loop Tour proceeds with remaining U.S. dates and South American legs ahead, though without the original supporting lineup and with an adjusted set.
New openers have not been fully confirmed in early reports.
Macklemore has moved on with his donation pledge, while the departed acts stand by their solidarity statements.
The episode has forced the usually low-drama Sheeran into the center of a charged cultural debate, testing the boundaries of free expression on major stages, the power of venue owners, and the expectations placed on global pop stars.
Fans continue to turn out, the music continues, and the conversation around the rupture shows little sign of quieting.
Disclaimer: This article was compiled using the AI tool Grok on X and may contain inaccuracies
