Ed Sheeran Returns After Macklemore Cut

Sheeran's tour resumed amid protests after Macklemore was dropped over Gaza comments.

•Left & Center

Ed Sheeran Apologizes For Dropping Macklemore, Calls Out Gaza "Injustice"

Ed Sheeran admits 'mistakes' as he addresses Macklemore controversy

Ed Sheeran Breaks Silence on Israel-Gaza at First Show Amid Tour Controversy: 'I Cannot Hide How I Feel About It Anymore'

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Coverage mix

What happened

The facts the coverage agrees on, drawn from reporting across the political spectrum. Where the sides dispute something, it's attributed.

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.

Both sides

How left-leaning and right-leaning outlets told this story, in their own coverage. Outlet names link to the article we drew from.

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.

Coverage•25 articles — 6 left, 14 center, 5 right