Full Breakdown
Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour Unravels After Macklemore’s Pro-Palestine Stage Remarks
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
During two shows at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on September 4-5, 2026, opening act Macklemore called for “Free Palestine” and performed “Hind’s Hall.” Venue owners, led by Patriots billionaire Robert Kraft, pressured the promoter to drop Macklemore from the remaining U.S. dates. Ed Sheeran announced the removal was a promoter decision. Within hours, the four remaining support acts—Finneas, Aaron Rowe, Lukas Graham, and Beoga—quit in solidarity with Macklemore.
Background & Context
Macklemore’s speech prompted a petition from the Israeli-American Council demanding his removal. Kraft, whose group owns Gillette Stadium (scheduled for September 25-26), said the rapper’s “recent actions” and a “broader history of antisemitic rhetoric” made his presence unacceptable. Sheeran’s team emphasized a desire to keep concerts “apolitical” and to protect fans, many of whom are children, from political controversy.
Data & Statistics
- Ticket resale prices for nine of the ten remaining shows fell by up to 45 percent; the Philadelphia Lincoln Financial Field price dropped to $75.
- “I think it's safe to say that any further decline today would be a strong sign that demand, and ticket prices, are falling by a newsworthy amount, at least for that show,” — Keith Pagello, founder of TicketData.
Official Statements & Responses
- Sheeran posted on Instagram: “Macklemore coming off the tour was the promoter’s decision, not mine,” and added that he had “direct talks with promoters and activists on both sides to try and find a mutual resolution.”
- Sheeran also said, “The suffering and pain caused on both sides is a human tragedy… none of which should be tolerated.”
- Macklemore’s Instagram blamed Kraft for an “ultimatum” that threatened the entire tour if he remained.
- Kraft said Gillette Stadium “has a longstanding commitment to providing a welcoming environment for all guests and ensuring events do not provide a platform for hate speech,” and pledged $2 million to humanitarian aid, matching Sheeran’s $2 million pledge.
- Journalist Zach Schonfeld noted, “It does show that a billionaire venue owner like Robert Kraft holds a lot of power to dictate who is allowed to perform and what these artists are allowed to say.”
On-the-Ground Reports
Fans in Philadelphia have filed refund requests and posted resale listings well below prior market values. Local activists organized a protest outside Lincoln Financial Field for September 19, demanding the tour honor free-speech principles.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Analysts attribute the Philadelphia price drop to both normal pre-event softening and the controversy, creating uncertainty about the primary driver. Kraft claims his decision was based on “antisemitic rhetoric,” while Macklemore alleges Kraft rallied other venue owners—a claim Kraft has not confirmed.
What’s Next
- The next concert is at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on September 19, 2026, proceeding without opening acts.
- Sheeran is slated to perform at Gillette Stadium on September 25-26, pending final venue approval.
- Sheeran and Kraft have pledged a combined $4 million for humanitarian aid in the region; specific recipient organizations have not been disclosed.