Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour was set to cover parts of North and South America featuring artists such as Macklemore, Finneas and Lukas Graham. However, on Sept. 15 things took a turn when Macklemore expressed his support for Palestine during his opening set, attracting widespread attention on social media.
The conflict between Israel and Palestine is well-known throughout the world and people worldwide have found it important to be able to share personal opinions to spread awareness of it. Individuals worldwide have taken to the call of “Free Palestine” amidst what the United Nations has declared is an ongoing genocide in Gaza.
During one of Macklemore’s sets, he performed one of his protest songs for this conflict, titled “Hind’s Hall,” at MetLife Stadium while opening for Sheeran. Macklemore posted his opening performance publicly and it started to spread over social media. Word got back to Sheeran’s tour promoter Messina Touring Group, who released an exclusive statement to Rolling Stone that due to future venues’ refusal to have Macklemore featured on the lineup, he would be taken off the set list.
This action spread controversy for the Loop Tour and caused fans to blame Sheeran for Macklemore’s absence. After the incident, Sheeran made a public social media announcement explaining why Macklemore was kicked off the tour as well as his decision not to share personal views.
“Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter’s decision, it was not mine. Macklemore’s contract for the tour was with the promoter, not me.” Sheeran wrote on Instagram. “I am not complicit. I have my personal views on this devastating conflict. Just because I choose not to speak publicly, it doesn’t mean I don’t have them, and it doesn’t mean I don’t care. Nor does it mean I don’t support causes in my own, personal way.”
Even after Sheeran’s public announcement as to why Macklemore wouldn’t be performing with the tour anymore, more artists started to share their own opinions on the whole situation.
Singer Pink was one who had an opinion about Macklemore’s opening even prior to his removal from the lineup, resharing an Instagram post that called for an apology from Macklemore and refunds for concertgoers who witnessed his statement. After receiving backlash from fans, she spoke out about it in an Instagram post.
“Last Sunday I reposted somebody else’s post about Macklemore’s set at Ed Sheeran’s show. It said things in words I didn’t write, and I wouldn’t have chosen all of them. Then the comments came, and I did what I do when I’m hurt, which is post snarky memes and act like I’m fine. That’s on me. A repost isn’t a statement, and a meme isn’t a spine. Social media makes all of us cheap and fast, and we all know it. But I’d rather be disagreed with for what I actually said than hated for what anybody else wrote,” she wrote.
Singers like Finneas, Graham and Sheeran’s own backing band Beoga, who were also scheduled to perform during the tour, dropped soon after the news in solidarity with Macklemore and Palestine.
“Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed. I have decided to withdraw from my upcoming tour dates with Sheeran. I stand with Palestine and its people,” Finneas posted on Instagram.
As of Sept. 16, people in Gaza continue to be killed over Israeli strikes and according to Al Jazeera, “Israel has killed around one child per day in Gaza since the 2025 ‘ceasefire.’” Meanwhile countries and their citizens worldwide continue to debate the severity of these deaths, with the United States declaring that “To avoid any doubt, the United States affirms, in the strongest terms possible, that the claims of ‘genocide’ against Israel are false.”
The controversy surrounding Macklemore’s removal from Sheeran’s Loop Tour has sparked a larger conversation amongst other artists and caused them to use their platforms to speak on these issues. The conflict with Palestine continues to influence conversations both within and outside the music industry, and shows how music and social media can capture the attention of a wider audience.
