Ed Sheeran Tour Drops Macklemore
Macklemore's removal from Ed Sheeran's tour sparked artist exits and refund demands.
September 16, 2026 · Updated Sep 16, 10:42pm ET
VoxHow Israel-Palestine broke up Sheeran-Macklemore
Straight Arrow NewsEd Sheeran dropped Macklemore from tour over pro-Palestinian comments. Now other opening acts are quitting
Daily CallerEd Sheeran Tour On Verge Of Collapse After Acts Quit In Solidarity With Macklemore
The GuardianEd Sheeran wants to stay out of politics. By quitting his tour, his support acts have exposed the hollowness of neutrality
BBC NewsRobert Kraft says Ed Sheeran asked him to donate $2m to aid after Macklemore backlash
Breitbart NewsAOC Blasts Patriots Owner Robert Kraft for 'Censoring' Macklemore from Criticizing Israel
Rolling StoneRepression of Free Speech Is Never the Way
Business InsiderEd Sheeran resale ticket prices slide as the Macklemore fallout grows
The Daily WireAOC Attacks NFL Owner, Peddles Gaza Lies To Defend Antisemitic Rapper
CNNEd Sheeran stadium drama turns to humanitarian cooperation
ABC NewsEd Sheeran's tour in trouble after opening acts drop out in solidarity with rapper Macklemore
FOX NewsMacklemore donates $1M to Palestinian aid organizations after Ed Sheeran tour fallout
Los Angeles TimesCommentary: By dumping pro-Palestinian Macklemore from his tour, apolitical Ed Sheeran is suddenly political
NBC NewsMacklemore pledges $1 million to Palestinian relief, challenges Robert Kraft to match it
CBNBattle over Rapper's Israel 'Genocide' Comments Shakes Up Tour; Congress Reacts to Cost of Iran War
Boston GlobeWhat to know about Ed Sheeran's tour after Macklemore was cut and artists dropped out
VarietyEd Sheeran Backlash Explodes as Ms. Rachel, Hannah Einbinder and More Slam Singer After Macklemore Dropped From Tour: ‘Silence During a Genocide Is Not Neutral’
The Post MillennialAll opening acts quit Ed Sheeran’s tour over Macklemore canceling
Al JazeeraMacklemore pledges $1m in tour earnings to Palestinian groups
Hot AirI Who Never Mackled Less Shall Mackle No More
Mother JonesThe Macklemore-Ed Sheeran Dispute is a corporate threat to free speech
PJ MediaLiberal Millionaires: Wait, What Is Free Speech Again?
HuffPostJesse Watters Just Had A Surprising Take On The Ed Sheeran-Macklemore Controversy
The InterceptEd Sheeran’s Craven “Neutrality” Is a Watershed Moment for Mainstreaming Palestine Solidarity
SlateThe Jewish Leaders Celebrating Macklemore’s Dismissal From Ed Sheeran’s Tour Have Lost the Plot on Antisemitism
Daily BeastTop Star’s U.S. Tour in Chaos After Every Support Act Quits
53%
Left · 19
22%
Center · 8
25%
Right · 9
Pano rates the coverage Leans Left.
What happened
Macklemore
MacklemoreAmerican rapper (born 1983) pledged his full $1 million in net tour earnings to six groups aiding Palestinians after Ed Sheeran
Ed SheeranEnglish singer-songwriter (born 1991)’s Loop Tour dropped him as an opener. The cut followed backlash over Macklemore’s pro-Palestinian comments at two New Jersey shows, and Sheeran’s other support acts later quit in solidarity. Macklemore said New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft
Robert KraftAmerican businessman and philanthropist (born 1941) blocked him from Gillette Stadium and pushed other venues; Sheeran said the promoter acted after venues threatened to pull shows. Kraft said Gillette Stadium would not host hate speech, citing what he called antisemitic rhetoric and imagery. He also said Sheeran asked him to commit $2 million in regional aid. The tour is still expected to continue, but new openers remain unclear.
How the left told it
Left-leaning accounts framed the dispute as powerful venues punishing pro-Palestinian speech, not routine tour management. Rolling Stone cast the removal as repression, while The Guardian treated Sheeran’s neutrality as a political choice once the backlash grew. CNN emphasized the aid pledge as a shift toward humanitarian pressure, and Vox tied the fight to changing views on Israel.
How the right told it
Right-leaning accounts framed the dispute around objectionable anti-Israel activism, not a clean free-speech case. The Daily Wire leaned on claims of antisemitism, while Breitbart treated the censorship argument as rumor-driven pressure politics from the left. Daily Caller focused on the tour fallout, casting the walkouts as the force destabilizing Sheeran’s shows.
Ed Sheeran Tour Turmoil
Part of the storyline · Storyline →- Sep 19Ed Sheeran Returns After Macklemore CutBalanced
- Sep 17Macklemore Removal Roils Ed Sheeran TourLeans Right
- Sep 16Ed Sheeran Tour Drops Macklemore (this story)Leans Left
- Sep 15Macklemore Dropped From Ed Sheeran TourBalanced
- Sep 14Macklemore Dropped From Ed Sheeran TourBalanced
