Same storyLater: Ed Sheeran performed his first concert since rapper Macklemore was removed from his tour…Each entry records what was published on its own date and is not edited afterwards.
What this entry found
- ONLY ONE OUTLET HAD THIS
cbc.ca carried 6 details no other outlet reported.
- In his September 5 speech, Macklemore addressed Jewish audience members, saying criticism of Israel is not a criticism of Jewish people
- Venues contacted Sheeran after MetLife shows, saying they would pull his performances if Macklemore was not removed
- Cbc.ca reported venues contacted Sheeran about 'how Macklemore conveyed part of his message during his performance'
- Cbc.ca reports videos from Macklemore's performances showed him repeating 'Free Palestine' to a cheering crowd
- Sheeran said he is 'appalled by the conflict between Israel and Palestine' and called suffering on 'both sides' a 'human tragedy'
- Macklemore is 43 years old
Day name corrected
The summary below named a weekday that does not match its own date. The date is as written; only the day name was recomputed from it.
Tuesday, September 10, 2026→ Thursday, September 10, 2026
10independent outlets
What happened, for context
All four of Ed Sheeran's remaining supporting acts—Aaron Rowe, Beoga, Lukas Graham, and Finneas—announced on Thursday, September 10, 2026, that they were withdrawing from his North and South American tour in solidarity with rapper Macklemore, who had been removed from the lineup after making pro-Palestinian comments during performances at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium on September 4-5. Sheeran attributed Macklemore's removal to the tour promoters and venues, not his own decision.
Who reported it
- africanews.comUNCLASSIFIED
- axios.comINDEP
- bbc.co.ukPUBLIC
- cbc.caPUBLIC
- cbsnews.comINDEP
- dailymail.comINDEP
- dw.comPUBLIC
- middleeasteye.netUNCLASSIFIED
- rte.iePUBLIC
- s.france24.comPUBLIC
References
- africanews.comEd Sheeran's tour in shambles as supporting acts pull out over free speech rowScreenshot as publishedOriginalcaptured 2026-09-16T13:34:26
- axios.comHow Ed Sheeran's tour imploded over a geopolitical fightScreenshot as publishedOriginalcaptured 2026-09-16T13:34:26
- bbc.co.ukAll support acts on Ed Sheeran's US tour quit after Macklemore droppedScreenshot as publishedOriginalcaptured 2026-09-16T13:34:26
- cbc.caRemaining supporting acts quit Ed Sheeran tour amid backlash over Macklemore oustingOriginalNo durable copy — do not citecaptured 2026-09-16T13:34:26
- cbsnews.comEd Sheeran's supporting acts pull out of tour after Macklemore was droppedScreenshot as publishedOriginalcaptured 2026-09-16T13:34:26
- dailymail.comLabour's Lisa Nandy backs Ed Sheeran as star faces being 'cancelled' in support acts row - suggesting it was right to ditch Macklemore over Gaza commentsScreenshot as publishedOriginalcaptured 2026-09-16T13:34:26
- dw.comSupporting acts pull out of Ed Sheeran's tour over dropping MacklemoreScreenshot as publishedOriginalcaptured 2026-09-16T13:34:26
- middleeasteye.netAll supporting acts quit Ed Sheeran tour in protest of Macklemore’s removalScreenshot as publishedOriginalcaptured 2026-09-16T13:34:26
- rte.ieIrish acts exit Ed Sheeran tour as they back MacklemoreScreenshot as publishedOriginalcaptured 2026-09-16T13:34:26
- s.france24.comEd Sheeran's tour in trouble after Pro-Palestine acts drop outScreenshot as publishedOriginalcaptured 2026-09-16T13:34:26
Carried by multiple outlets
- Four supporting acts quit Ed Sheeran's tour on Tuesday: Aaron Rowe, Beoga, Lukas Graham, and Finneasafricanews.com, axios.com, bbc.co.uk, cbc.ca, cbsnews.com, dw.com, middleeasteye.net, rte.ie, s.france24.com
- Macklemore was removed from the tour after making pro-Palestinian comments during performances at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on September 4-5africanews.com, axios.com, bbc.co.uk, cbc.ca, cbsnews.com, dailymail.com, dw.com, middleeasteye.net, rte.ie, s.france24.com
- Finneas stated 'Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed'africanews.com, axios.com, bbc.co.uk, cbc.ca, cbsnews.com, dw.com, middleeasteye.net, s.france24.com
- Finneas is Billie Eilish's brother and musical collaboratorafricanews.com, axios.com, bbc.co.uk, cbsnews.com, dw.com, rte.ie, s.france24.com
- Aaron Rowe and Lukas Graham were scheduled to replace Macklemore on remaining U.S. datesafricanews.com, axios.com, bbc.co.uk, cbsnews.com, s.france24.com
- Beoga performs several songs with Sheeran each night, including some co-written by the bandafricanews.com, bbc.co.uk, cbsnews.com, s.france24.com
- and 4 more, not shown
Reported by one outlet only
- Finneas is described as 'Irish-American' in one articleonly rte.ie
- Beoga described their decision as a response to 'silencing of Macklemore by zionist lobbies'only middleeasteye.net
- Beoga stated in their lengthy statement they have been friends with Ed for over 10 yearsonly rte.ie
- Beoga said in their statement: 'We are a traditional Irish band who never saw ourselves playing in stadiums of that size'only dw.com
- Macklemore told the MetLife crowd on September 4 he wanted to 'say two words that are very near and dear to my heart: Free Palestine'only axios.com
- Macklemore's performance included images of war-torn Gaza on the video boardonly axios.com
Reported unevenly
- Whether Macklemore was dropped by Sheeran/his team or by the tour promoters/venuesstated by Macklemore posted on Instagram (per dailymail.com) claiming 'Sheeran and his team had made the decision to remove' him, Sheeran (per bbc.co.uk, cbc.ca, cbsnews.com, dw.com) said 'Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter's decision, it was not mine', cbc.ca reports Sheeran said 'upcoming venues contacted him after his shows...saying they would pull his performances if Macklemore...was not removed'