Ed Sheeran spoke directly to fans about the controversy surrounding his Loop Tour this week, addressing the fallout after rapper Macklemore was dropped as his opening act following pro-Palestinian remarks made onstage.
The situation began after Macklemore led a chant critical of U.S. policy during a tour stop, which drew sharp criticism from some fans and organizations, including a petition from the Israeli-American Council calling for his removal from the tour. Macklemore was subsequently dropped from the lineup, a decision that led several other opening acts to exit the tour as well in the days that followed.
Macklemore addressed the backlash himself on social media, writing that he always tries to lead with love and bring people together rather than create division, and said he hadn’t felt right since the events of October 7.
At his September 19 show in Philadelphia, the first stop on the tour without Macklemore or any opening act, Sheeran used part of his set to speak about where he personally stands on the situation in Israel and Gaza. He described the events of October 7 as horrific, called the humanitarian situation in Gaza catastrophic and disproportionate, and said the scale of civilian loss, including children, had deeply affected him. He added that he was already in conversation with people across different perspectives as he tries to figure out how to meaningfully help those affected.
The controversy has also drawn reactions from other artists connected to the tour. Pink, who faced criticism after sharing a post that had called for Macklemore’s removal, responded with a lengthy statement of her own on Instagram addressing the situation.
Sheeran has not announced any further lineup changes for the remainder of the Loop Tour, which continues across North America in the coming weeks. The controversy marks one of the more public moments of political tension the tour has faced since it kicked off, and it remains to be seen whether additional acts will follow Macklemore’s departure.
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Source: Billboard
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