Ed Sheeran Apologizes at First Show Since Macklemore Drop — SkimNews
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- Ed Sheeran apologized for "mistakes" at his Philadelphia show, his first since Macklemore was dropped from his Loop Tour, telling the crowd he never wanted to be an "activist musician" but felt compelled to address the controversy.
- Messina Touring Group dropped Macklemore because venues — including Gillette Stadium — refused to host the concerts if he performed; Sheeran insisted the decision was made by promoters, not by him.
- Robert Kraft, owner of Gillette Stadium and the New England Patriots, confirmed he personally banned Macklemore, accusing the rapper of "hate speech" and saying he was "sharing selective information and ignoring the actions of Hamas."
- All support acts quit the tour in solidarity with Macklemore — including Irish singer-songwriter Aaron Rowe and Danish musician Lukas Graham with his band Beoga — calling his removal a "chilling effect" on free speech.
- Ticket prices for remaining US Loop Tour dates collapsed, with some seats going for as low as $32 (£24); some fans reported receiving refunds, though Ticketmaster and Messina Touring Group did not confirm reimbursements.
- Sheeran described the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attacks as "horrific and compounded centuries of Jewish pain" and called the situation in Gaza "catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate," while also warning against venues "pre-approving" content or performers.
- Outside the Philadelphia venue, a small group of protesters waved flags; one identified only as Cooper urged more artists to "speak on behalf of the Palestinian people and their struggle for liberation, especially in the United States."
Why it matters: The boycott is squeezing a tour that was already under pressure: ticket prices cratered to $32 and every support act walked, while venue owners like Robert Kraft showed they can veto performers mid-tour. Sheeran's on-stage defense of free-speech concerns while also calling Gaza "unjustifiable" is an explicit attempt to keep the dates alive without alienating either side — but the financial hit suggests the controversy is now a business problem, not just a moral one.
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