{
  "id": 16636247,
  "title": "Jack Antonoff Slams Ed Sheeran for Bowing to a Billionaire in Macklemore Tour Debacle: ‘Stand the F–k Up’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/26/jack-antonoff-slams-ed-sheeran-for-bowing-to-a-billionaire-in",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-26T17:06:21.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Billboard",
    "slug": "billboard",
    "url": "https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/jack-antonoff-slams-ed-sheeran-macklemore-free-palestine-1236367889/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Jack Antonoff, a producer and musician, has criticized Ed Sheeran for bowing to billionaire Robert Kraft's demands to remove Macklemore from his Loop Tour lineup. Antonoff stated in a recent interview with The Guardian that if musicians think standing up for issues like \"Free Palestine\" is controversial, they're mistaken. He went on to say he would play for free outside venues rather than bow to a billionaire's influence, encouraging Sheeran to do the same. The Loop Tour controversy arose when Macklemore was fired as an opener on the tour after billionaire Robert Kraft rallied other stadium owners to ban Sheeran from performing at their venues unless the rapper exited the bill. Sheeran initially tried to find alternative solutions with Kraft and other venue owners but ultimately decided to continue the tour without Macklemore. Macklemore then donated his earnings from the tour to Palestinian aid and Sheeran and Kraft pledged money to humanitarian efforts in Gaza. Antonoff has long been vocal about his support for Palestinians, but he feels emboldened to speak out after the Loop Tour controversy. He has also been critical of large corporations in the live music industry, like Live Nation, for their monopolistic practices.",
  "summary": "The producer would've handled backlash to the rapper's \"Free Palestine\" protests much differently.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}