Four acts exit Ed Sheeran tour after Macklemore removal

Macklemore stepped forward at MetLife Stadium on Sept. 5 and shouted “Free Palestine!” while introducing his protest song “Hind’s Hall.” He was opening for Ed Sheeran that night in New Jersey and was booked for eight of the ten remaining dates on the stadium run. By Monday he was off the tour. By Tuesday every scheduled opening act was gone too.

The video that spread under the line “All four of Ed Sheeran’s opening acts have pulled out” tracked the speed of the collapse. Mark Kennedy laid out the sequence for the Associated Press on Sept. 15, 2026: one onstage shout, a promoter’s removal, a billionaire’s defense, the headliner’s careful distance, and then four separate Instagram exits.

On Monday Macklemore posted that he had been kicked off the Loop Tour after the MetLife moment. He said several U.S. venues had told the promoter they would prohibit him from performing as Sheeran’s opener, a position he tied to Robert Kraft. Kraft owns the NFL’s New England Patriots and, through the Kraft Group, Gillette Stadium, one of the stops still on the itinerary.

Kraft issued his own statement the same day defending the decision to cancel Macklemore. He pointed to the rapper’s recent comments “and a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery that we believe has been deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community.”

At MetLife itself Macklemore had already drawn a line for part of the crowd. “To all of my Jewish brothers and sisters, criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide, it in no way is criticism of you,” he told them.

Sheeran posted on Instagram on Tuesday. “Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter’s decision; it was not mine,” he wrote. “I would never let down the fans who had made plans, nor would I abandon the touring crew and the other support acts and musicians who rely on me for work and to make a living.” He said he had spoken with the venues at length all week trying to build a bridge, yet “the venue’s and promoter’s decision was final.” The promoter, Messina Touring Group, did not respond to requests for comment.

Hours after Sheeran’s post, the four remaining support acts began announcing their withdrawals on Instagram. Aaron Rowe, Beoga, Lukas Graham and Finneas each stepped away.