Ed Sheeran Returns After Macklemore Cut

What happened

Ed Sheeran went ahead with his Philadelphia concert as the first show since Macklemore was removed from the U.S. leg. The remaining billed openers, including Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe, Finneas and Sheeran’s backing band Beoga, quit in solidarity, leaving him without support acts. Macklemore was dropped after saying “Free Palestine” and performing a pro-Palestinian song at MetLife Stadium, drawing backlash from Jewish and pro-Israel groups. Sheeran said the removal was the promoter’s call, while Macklemore said Robert Kraft and venue owners pushed for it. Before singing, Sheeran apologized and described Gaza as catastrophic. The tour now continues without clear replacements.

How each side covered it

From the left

Left-leaning outlets cast Sheeran as a pop star pulled into a political fight he had tried to avoid. The Guardian framed him as “dragged into” a culture-war dispute while trying to keep concerts safe and unifying. The Los Angeles Times treated Macklemore’s removal as an attempted silencing that amplified pro-Palestinian attention. The Guardian also saw the dispute as a music-industry split over staying apolitical.

From the right

Right-leaning outlets centered the dispute on Macklemore’s rhetoric and Sheeran’s effort to keep the stage focused on unity. The New York Post described Macklemore’s conduct as anti-Israel “tirades,” not ordinary political speech. Fox News emphasized Sheeran’s emotional apology and his plea to keep shows about humanity. The New York Post lingered on the Philadelphia protesters as a small, loud anti-Israel crowd.

Headlines

Ed Sheeran Returns After Macklemore Cut

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What happened

How each side covered it

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