Topline
Activists are preparing to demonstrate outside of Ed Sheeran’s concert at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia Saturday night in protest of his treatment of Macklemore, who gave several pro-Palestine speeches on stage before being dropped from the tour at the request of wealthy stadium owners who’ve backed Israel amid its ongoing war in the Middle East.
A Palestinian artist paints a mural of rapper Macklemore on the wall of a destroyed house in Gaza City on Sept. 17, 2026.
Anadolu via Getty Images
Key Facts
Local advocacy organizations, including the Philly Palestine Coalition and Shut Down D&Z, announced plans to gather outside the Philadelphia Eagles’ stadium at 4:30 p.m. EST.
The concert, scheduled for 8 p.m., is the first Sheeran will perform since controversy erupted following two shows at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey earlier this month.
Rapper Macklemore opened for Sheeran at those shows and said one of the reasons he joined Sheeran’s tour was because he wanted to “stand up here on stages and stadiums across America and say two words that are very near and dear to my heart: ‘Free Palestine.’”
The backlash among Zionists was swift but the remarks didn’t turn into a full blown controversy until Macklemore was dropped from Sheeran’s remaining tour dates at the behest of billionaire New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, who barred the rapper from Gillette Stadium and rallied other stadium owners to tell Sheeran he wouldn’t be allowed to play their venues if he kept Macklemore on the ticket.
Sheeran then posted a platitudinous statement in which he blamed the decision on the tour’s promoter and neither supported nor opposed Macklemore’s stance on the conflict, and all other openers scheduled to perform on the tour, and Sheeran’s backing band, publicly quit.
Sheeran is expected to take the stage without any opener on Saturday night and is reportedly searching for replacement opening acts for the rest of his tour.
CRUCIAL QUOTE
“Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed,” musician Finneas, who was scheduled to open for Sheeran at six shows in South America, said. “I stand with Palestine and its people.”
BIG NUMBER
Nearly 50%. That’s how much prices for Sheeran’s Philadelphia show plummeted in the week before the concert. The cheapest single ticket price for Sheeran’s Saturday show at Lincoln Financial Field fell to $51 on Friday morning, plunging from the $100 get-in price early Tuesday morning. Ticket availability has also surged and the Philadelphia show is experiencing a 2.5x rise in resale tickets sold.
SURPRISING FACT
While protestors rally against Sheeran, Palestinians are thanking Macklemore for his support. Artists in Gaza painted a mural of the rapper wrapped in a Palestinian flag on a wall of rubble, alongside the words, “Thank you for using your voice for Palestine.”
Key background
Macklemore had been publicly backing Palestine on stages for years before doing so on Sheeran’s tour. He’s released the songs “Hind’s Hall” and “Hind’s Hall 2” in 2024 with lyrics accusing Israel of genocide and questioning the legitimacy of political aid to Israel, and directed all proceeds to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency. He refused to retract the statements that got him removed from Sheeran’s tour and pledged his $1 million in net earnings from the tour to six primary Palestinian relief and development organizations. Sheeran has said he’ll donate $2 million and asked Kraft to match the donation to “aid in the region to fight this humanitarian crisis.” Kraft said he would, adding, “Ed now plans to reach out to other venue owners and our goal is to continue to work together to build bridges.”
WHO HAS SUPPORTED MACKLEMORE?
Zara Larsson, Greta Thunberg, Rachel Chinouriri, Bob Vylan and others left supportive comments on Macklemore’s post claiming Kraft was responsible for his firing. Florence Pugh, Penélope Cruz, Rachel Zegler, Cara Delevingne, Amanda Seyfried, Chase Infiniti, Bella Hadid and Hozier all “liked” his post and his fellow opening acts made statements of support. Aaron Rowe said he could not “stand by and allow billionaires to use their position of power to silence the rightful voices of those who speak up against Israeli genocide and who highlight the savage murder of children,” a sentiment echoed by Irish folk band Beoga, Sheeran’s backing band. F1 racer Lewis Hamilton told Macklemore, “Thank you for using your voice, standing with you.”
CONTRA
Internet personality Dave Portnoy and British singer Boy George have been critical of Macklemore. Portnoy said he supported Kraft’s decision and Boy George accused Macklemore of “hijacking” Sheeran’s shows. He called the supporting acts who withdrew “spineless rats.”
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