Ed Sheeran concert set to go ahead after outcry over Gaza
Ed Sheeran is expected to perform at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Saturday, possibly without his scheduled opening acts, after several artists withdrew in protest of the removal of Macklemore from the U.S. tour. Macklemore was expelled following an onstage pro-Palestine comment, a decision that triggered public backlash and calls for a boycott from Palestinian advocacy groups.
Why It Matters
The episode highlights growing tensions in the cultural sector over the Israel-Gaza conflict and reflects shifting public attitudes in the U.S. that have prompted artists and institutions to take high-profile positions on the issue.
Key Facts
- Event: Ed Sheeran scheduled to perform Saturday at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
- Possible solo performance: Sheeran may perform alone after opening acts pulled out
- Opening acts who withdrew: Finneas, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe
- Reason for withdrawals: Artists pulled out following Macklemore's expulsion from the tour over comments supporting Palestine
- Macklemore's action: Said 'free Palestine' onstage in New Jersey on September 5; later pledged $1 million in tour earnings to Palestinian groups (reported)
Ed Sheeran is set to return to the stage at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Saturday, but the headline act may proceed without his planned opening performers after several acts withdrew in protest. The departures followed the removal of rapper Macklemore from Sheeran’s U.S. tour after Macklemore voiced support for Palestine during a September 5 performance in New Jersey. Finneas, the producer and brother of Billie Eilish, had been scheduled to open on select dates and announced he would not perform this week. Danish band Lukas Graham and Irish singer Aaron Rowe also confirmed they would not take part in portions of Sheeran’s global tour. Organizers and artists have linked their decisions to the controversy over Macklemore’s expulsion. The decision to drop Macklemore came after pressure from influential figures, including billionaire Robert Kraft, whose company owns a stadium where Sheeran was due to play. The move prompted strong reactions from the public and activist groups; the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) called for a full boycott of Sheeran’s world tour. A pro-Palestinian rally is planned near the Philadelphia venue ahead of Saturday’s show. Support for Macklemore has also come from unexpected places: artists in Gaza painted a mural of the rapper draped in a Palestinian flag in Gaza City’s rubble, and reports say Macklemore has pledged $1 million of his tour earnings to Palestinian groups. Sheeran has issued a statement denying responsibility for Macklemore’s removal and saying he is "not complicit" in the decision.
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