Taylor Swift has remained silent amid controversy surrounding her friend Ed Sheeran. The dispute centers on the removal of rapper Macklemore from Sheeran’s Loop Tour after he chanted "Free Palestine" and used terms like "genocide" and "apartheid" to describe Israel’s actions during a performance in New Jersey. While some pro-Palestinian groups supported Macklemore, others criticized him, leading to his removal by tour promoters and venues, not Sheeran himself. Swift has typically avoided political controversies but shares a long-standing friendship with Sheeran, collaborating on songs like "Everything Has Changed" and performing together numerous times over the years.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-19,
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.
Taylor Swift hasn’t publicly spoken out in support of close friend Ed Sheeran as controversy over Macklemore's removal has engulfed Sheeran's latest tour.
asserted
controversy → speak → tour
Sheeran has faced scrutiny from some pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel activists after his tour promoter and venues dropped rapper Macklemore from his Loop Tour after Macklemore’s onstage chants of "Free Palestine" earlier this month.
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promoter → face → Palestine
Groups, including StopAntisemitism and the Combat Antisemitism Movement called for Macklemore's removal, while singer Pink criticized Macklemore's performance.
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Pink → include → performance
It was during his opening set on the tour at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium when the Grammy-winning Macklemore also described Israel’s actions using terms such as "genocide" and "apartheid."
asserted
Macklemore → win → genocide
Since the dust-up, Sheeran released a statement addressing the situation, saying the decision to remove Macklemore was made by the tour’s promoters and venues, not by him personally.
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decision → release → him
He also noted his desire to continue the tour and not let down fans or crew members who rely on his concerts for their income.
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who → note → income
That was followed by four of his tour openers withdrawing from his concerts in solidarity with Macklemore, while also noting their own opposition to what they described as genocide in Gaza.
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they → follow → Gaza
Macklemore notably drew fierce criticism in 2014 when he donned what appeared to be an antisemitic costume caricaturing Jewish people, although he claimed it was unintentional.
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it → draw → people
As Sheeran has been navigating one of the most public controversies of his career, his longtime friend and collaborator Swift has been quiet, reflective of a career where she's generally, but not always, stayed out of political strife.
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she → navigate → strife
Swift has shared a close personal and professional relationship with Sheeran spanning more than a decade.
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Swift → share → decade
It has even been described as one of the most high-profile friendships in modern music history, with the pair mutually supporting each other through the years and collaborating both in the studio and onstage.
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pair → describe → studio
Sheeran appeared as the opening act for the North American leg of Swift’s "Red Tour" in 2013, and the two have teamed up on songs including the duet "Everything Has Changed" from that tour and the 2021 song "Run."
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Everything → appear → tour
Plenty of other memorable moments have ensued between the two.
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Plenty → ensue → two
When Swift won her first BRIT Award in 2015, she publicly thanked Sheeran in her acceptance speech, crediting him with teaching her about British culture and pubs.
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she → win → culture
Sheeran has been known to appear at her concerts, one time dressed as a clown as he went onto the stage during one of her Nashville shows.
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he → know → shows
Both artists have often described how they’re able to relate to one another because of the unique pressures they experience at their level of fame.
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they → describe → fame
Swift’s reps are known for protecting the singer’s brand, and Swift has historically been selective about when she speaks out, but she has used her platform to advocate for some progressive causes in recent years, such as endorsing Kamala Harris and supporting gay rights.
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she → know → rights
She also has tried to get more voters registered, including when she endorsed Harris in 2024.
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she → try → 2024
In 2018, Swift criticized Republican Tennessee Senate candidate Marsha Blackburn over her conservative voting record and opposition to LGBTQ+ and women’s rights, instead endorsing her Democratic opponent, former Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen.
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Swift → criticize → opponent
She also described President Donald Trump as a poor leader during the COVID-19 pandemic and accused him of cheating to win.
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She → describe → him
Some who've worked in the entertainment industry think it's best for performers to remain quiet about politics, whether it's Macklemore, Swift or any other celebrity.
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it → work → politics
"My general feeling is they ought to stay in their own lane," David Sams, CEO of Sam’s Global Companies, a conglomerate of media networks and talent management, and former head of global marketing and creative affairs at King World, told Fox News Digital.
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Sams → stay → Digital
"It’s a lot of noise, and with everything going on in the world right now, to even give five seconds to their shenanigans is ridiculous.
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everything → ’ → shenanigans
Swift has also at times been criticized by the left for being insufficiently outspoken on issues.
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Swift → criticize → issues
Fox News Digital reached out to Swift for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
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Digital → reach → response
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