Ed Sheeran is set to resume his tour on Saturday in Philadelphia, possibly performing solo after his supporting acts withdrew in solidarity with Macklemore, who was dropped for making pro-Palestinian comments. Originally, Macklemore was to open for Sheeran, but after his remarks at a New Jersey concert, which included a call for “Free Palestine,” he was removed following pressure from New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft.
Despite losing his supporting acts, including Irish band Beoga and others who had replaced Macklemore, tickets for the show remain available and no new acts have been announced. A pro-Palestinian coalition plans to protest outside the concert.
Macklemore announced he would donate $1 million to Palestinian relief and urged Kraft to match it. Both Kraft and Sheeran have reportedly agreed to donate a total of $2 million, though specifics on the funds have not been revealed.
Sheeran, whose tour is one of the highest-grossing, clarified that he was not responsible for Macklemore’s removal and expressed his desire to stay out of political discussions related to the Gaza conflict, emphasizing that fans attend his shows for the music, not political discourse.
