Ed Sheeran is upset over the fallout from rapper Macklemore's political speeches during their tour. Four of Sheeran’s opening acts quit in solidarity with Macklemore after he criticized Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. Sources claim Sheeran feels betrayed and “thrown under the bus” by his friends, though the article does not specify who these friends are. The controversy began when Macklemore delivered a two-minute speech at one of Sheeran's concerts, which led to demands from pro-Israel groups for his removal from the tour. Macklemore announced he would leave the tour after receiving support from Beoga and facing pressure from venue owners like Robert Kraft who threatened not to host Sheeran if Macklemore remained on the bill.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-18,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Ed Sheeran's LOOP Tour faced significant disruption when Macklemore, his opening act, was dropped due to pro-Palestinian comments made during a concert in New Jersey on September 5, 2023. Macklemore had chanted "Free Palestine" and displayed images from Gaza, leading venue owners like Robert Kraft of the Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts to threaten to cancel shows if Macklemore continued as an act. Following this, all four other supporting acts—Finneas, Aaron Rowe, Lukas Graham, and Irish folk group Beoga—quit the tour in solidarity with Macklemore. Sheeran expressed his disappointment on social media, stating he had no personal stake in Macklemore's removal, which was a decision made by the promoter. The controversy has also affected ticket prices for upcoming concerts; resale prices have dropped significantly, with Philadelphia tickets falling by 25 percent.
Written for “Ed Sheeran Tour Drama Macklemore” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 43 other(s) covering the same event.
Ed Sheeran 'furious and upset' about Macklemore fallout and feels 'thrown under the bus'
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Sheeran → feel → bus
His four other opening acts have since quit in solidarity with Macklemore, including Finneas, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe and Beoga.
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acts → quit → Finneas
Now, sources have claimed he is “absolutely furious” at being placed under scrutiny and feels “thrown under the bus” by his friends.
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he → claim → friends
The source added: “Even though Ed is a very mild-mannered guy he will speak his mind when he has to.
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he → add → mind
He’ll be absolutely furious at being put in this situation.
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He → put → situation
“He’s been thrown under a bus by several people he considers friends.”
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he → throw → people
The outlet did not clarify which friends the source was referring to.
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source → clarify → friends
Sheeran is long-time friends with the Irish folk group Beoga, who helped create his hit song, Galway Girl, and had been performing with him at every concert.
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who → help → concert
He has also known Macklemore for 13 years.
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He → know → years
The Standard has contacted Sheeran’s representative for comment.
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Standard → contact → comment
The controversy began when Macklemore gave a two-minute speech at his New Jersey show earlier this month, saying he wanted the people of Gaza and “the occupied West Bank” to know “we have not forgotten about them”.
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we → begin → them
He then launched into protest song Hind’s Hall, which condemns Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and was dedicated to pro-Palestinian protesters at Columbia University.
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which → launch → University
Images of the devastation in Gaza were shown whilst he performed.
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he → show → Gaza
Macklemore told the crowd that a large reason why he signed on to the tour was for the opportunity to speak on the ongoing conflict.
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he → tell → conflict
Read More
The following day, at his second appearance at the MetLife Stadium, he reiterated his previous message with a direct address to Jewish members in the audience.
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he → read → audience
My message is for peace, love; for all human beings to be treated with dignity, respect and equality,” he said.
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he → treat → dignity
Shortly after his remarks, the Israeli-American Council launched a petition asking Sheeran and his management to remove Macklemore from the remaining dates.
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Council → launch → dates
On Monday, Macklemore announced he would no longer be playing the remaining dates of Sheeran’s Loop tour.
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he → announce → tour
The 43-year-old said that despite his long-standing friendship with Sheeran, “it can’t change my responsibility to tell the truth about what happened”.
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what → say → truth
Macklemore said that billionaire Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft had organised the boycott, rallying other stadium owners who ultimately gave Sheeran the ultimatum: “If Macklemore stays on the tour, you will not be allowed to play in our venues”.
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you → say → venues
“Ed was in a f***** up position,” the rapper wrote.
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rapper → write → position
“He knew it.
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He → know → it
His typical apolitical stance was being challenged in a way it had never been before.”
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it → challenge → way
The following day, Sheeran issued a statement of his own, where he confirmed that Kraft had issued an ultimatum.
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Kraft → issue → ultimatum
“I have my personal views on this devastating conflict.
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I → have → conflict
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.”
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I → choose → them
He said his audiences often include children and young people “from all backgrounds”, which is why he does not use the stage for politics.
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he → say → politics
Sheeran has also stepped up police presence at his next gig, which is in Philadelphia on Saturday amid planned pro-Palestine protests.
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which → step → protests
Macklemore has since donated his one million-dollar (£747,328) tour net earnings to charities supporting Palestinian people, and challenged Kraft, who reportedly called for his removal from the tour, to do the same.
uncertain
who → donate → same
The Aporia
