{
  "id": 7693725,
  "title": "Ed Sheeran says it wasn’t his call to drop Macklemore over ‘Free Palestine’ remarks",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/ed-sheeran-says-it-wasnt-his-call-to-drop-macklemore-over-free",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-16T03:30:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Jerusalem Post",
    "slug": "jerusalem-post",
    "url": "https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-908733"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Ed Sheeran revealed he had no involvement in the decision to drop opening act Macklemore from his tour due to the rapper's pro-Palestinian remarks. The promotion of Macklemore's departure was made by the promoters, not Sheeran. The controversy gained momentum after Macklemore's comments at a stadium show where he accused Israel of genocide and displayed Gaza images. Other acts on Sheeran's tour, including Aaron Rowe, Beoga, and Finneas, also announced they would be leaving the tour in solidarity with Palestine. Both Beoga and Finneas expressed their support for Palestine in their statements, with Beoga specifically criticizing Robert Kraft for his alleged efforts against the BDS movement. Macklemore's comments sparked criticism from various quarters, with critics accusing him of antisemitism.",
  "summary": "“I am not complicit,” Sheeran wrote in a statement on Instagram Tuesday, saying that Macklemore leaving the tour “was the promoter’s decision, it was not mine.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 8,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Ed Sheeran's supporting acts quit after Macklemore is kicked off tour for pro-Palestinian stance",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/ed-sheerans-supporting-acts-quit-after-macklemore-is-kicked-off-tour",
        "published": "2026-09-15T23:17:03.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Le Monde English",
        "title": "Ed Sheeran's tour in jeopardy after opening acts all quit in support of Macklemore",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/ed-sheerans-tour-in-jeopardy-after-opening-acts-all-quit-in-support",
        "published": "2026-09-15T23:42:07.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Ed Sheeran tour exodus: Finneas and three more acts quit after Macklemore axing over pro-Palestine remarks",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/ed-sheeran-tour-exodus-finneas-and-three-more-acts-quit-after",
        "published": "2026-09-16T01:03:13.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Ed Sheeran's tour in trouble after opening acts drop out in solidarity with rapper Macklemore",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/ed-sheerans-tour-in-trouble-after-opening-acts-drop-out-in-solidarity",
        "published": "2026-09-16T01:16:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Japan News by The Yomiuri Shimbun",
        "title": "Ed Sheeran’s Tour in Trouble after Opening Acts Drop out in Solidarity with Rapper Macklemore",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/ed-sheerans-tour-in-trouble-after-opening-acts-drop-out-in-solidarity-7687776",
        "published": "2026-09-16T02:39:22.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
        "title": "All support acts on Ed Sheeran’s US tour quit after Macklemore dropped",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/all-support-acts-on-ed-sheerans-us-tour-quit-after-macklemore-dropped",
        "published": "2026-09-16T02:51:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "KBC",
        "title": "All support acts on Ed Sheeran’s US tour quit after Macklemore dropped",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/all-support-acts-on-ed-sheerans-us-tour-quit-after-macklemore-dropped-7707437",
        "published": "2026-09-16T03:34:35.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}