Ed Sheeran is set to resume his tour Saturday — possibly solo — after all his supporting acts withdrew in solidarity with opener Macklemore, who was dropped after making pro-Palestinian comments onstage.
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.
Macklemore, Sheeran’s original US opener, had been replaced by Danish band Lukas Graham and Irish singer Aaron Rowe before they backed out. 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.
The Fallout
Sheeran has not said anything publicly since losing the artists’ support. As of Friday, tickets were still available for Saturday’s show, and his website did not list any replacement acts. A coalition of pro-Palestinian organizations plans to protest outside the show Saturday afternoon.
The show comes after a tumultuous week that opened with Macklemore being dropped in response to exclaiming “Free Palestine” during a September 5 show in New Jersey. Sheeran has said he was not responsible for the decision, which came at the urging of New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft. His company owns a stadium where Sheeran’s tour was scheduled to play on Friday.
Within hours of Sheeran’s statement Tuesday, his supporting acts withdrew.
The Donations
Macklemore said Wednesday he is donating $1 million to support Palestinian relief efforts and called on Kraft to match the gift. A spokesperson for Kraft has said the billionaire and Sheeran have each agreed to donate $2 million but have not specified where the money will be directed. Sheeran’s representatives have not responded to multiple requests for comment.
The Tour
Sheeran’s Loop Tour was the highest-grossing in the world, with an average box office gross of over $7 million per city, Pollstar said in May. Through the end of 2025, Sheeran was the No. 3 top-earning concert act since 2021.
Sheeran has said the tour promoter was ultimately responsible for the decision to drop Macklemore. The Grammy winner was adamant in his Tuesday statement that he wouldn’t be drawn into discussion of the war in Gaza, arguing that his fans don’t come to his shows to hear about these issues.
He also said he “spoke with the venues at length all week to try to build a bridge” before Macklemore was dropped. He insisted he would never willingly let down his fans or abandon the touring crew and others who rely on him to make a living.
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.
The Bottom Line
Ed Sheeran is set to perform in Philadelphia after all his supporting acts withdrew in solidarity with Macklemore, who was dropped for making pro-Palestinian comments onstage. Sheeran may perform solo. He has said he was not responsible for the decision and does not want to be drawn into the Gaza debate. Macklemore has pledged $1 million to Palestinian relief, and Sheeran and Kraft have each agreed to donate $2 million. Pro-Palestinian groups plan to protest outside the show.
My opinion
Ed Sheeran has spent his career avoiding politics. His fans come for the music, not the messaging. That is a defensible position. But staying neutral becomes harder when your opening acts are being dropped for speaking out, and your supporting band walks away in protest. Sheeran says he was not responsible for Macklemore’s removal. He says the promoter made the call. He says he tried to build a bridge. He may be telling the truth. But the truth does not change the outcome: a Palestinian solidarity statement cost an artist his slot on the highest-grossing tour in the world, and the musicians around Sheeran decided they would not stand by in silence.
Sheeran is now caught between two audiences. Those who want him to take a stand. And those who want him to keep singing. There is no safe middle ground. If he performs solo and says nothing, he pleases no one. If he addresses the controversy, he alienates part of his fanbase. The only thing he can control is the show itself. The question is whether that will be enough.
