{
  "id": 7783749,
  "title": "Acts abandon Ed Sheeran tour after Macklemore barred over ‘Free Palestine’ comments",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/acts-abandon-ed-sheeran-tour-after-macklemore-barred-over-free",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-16T12:32:41.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Egypt Independent",
    "slug": "egypt-independent",
    "url": "https://www.egyptindependent.com/acts-abandon-ed-sheeran-tour-after-macklemore-barred-over-free-palestine-comments/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Ed Sheeran's international tour has been disrupted as Macklemore was removed from the US dates due to his support for Palestine during his performances. All other opening acts followed suit, citing solidarity with Macklemore and the Palestinian people. Robert Kraft, the owner of the New England Patriots, barred Macklemore from performing at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts, citing an ultimatum from Kraft and other stadium owners. Macklemore, known for advocating for Palestinian rights since the 2023 Israel-Gaza conflict, expressed his stance on social media, stating he had been removed from the rest of Sheeran's American tour. The controversy has sparked backlash from individuals like Pink, who criticized Macklemore's actions. Ed Sheeran, despite the turmoil, has remained silent on the matter, distancing himself from the conflict.",
  "summary": "Ed Sheeran’s international tour has been thrown into crisis, with one opening act, the rapper Macklemore, dropped from the tour’s US dates for his onstage support of Palestine, and all of the British singer’s other openers quitting to protest the removal. On Monday, Robert Kraft, the billionaire owner of the New England Patriots, said he … The post Acts abandon Ed Sheeran tour after Macklemore…",
  "key_points": [
    "Macklemore barred from Ed Sheeran tour over 'Free Palestine' comments",
    "Other opening acts follow Macklemore's lead in solidarity",
    "Robert Kraft initiates ultimatum from stadium owners"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Jakarta Post",
        "title": "Artists exit Sheeran tour in solidarity with Macklemore pro-Palestinian comments",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/artists-exit-sheeran-tour-in-solidarity-with-macklemore-pro",
        "published": "2026-09-16T08:24:36.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC News",
        "title": "Watch: Will Ed Sheeran cancel his tour as support acts quit?",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/watch-will-ed-sheeran-cancel-his-tour-as-support-acts-quit",
        "published": "2026-09-16T09:34:48.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "Which artists have pulled out of Ed Sheeran’s tour over Palestine?",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/which-artists-have-pulled-out-of-ed-sheerans-tour-over-palestine",
        "published": "2026-09-16T13:27:24.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "CBS News",
        "title": "Ed Sheeran speaks out on dropping Macklemore from tour, says it was promoters' decision",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/ed-sheeran-speaks-out-on-dropping-macklemore-from-tour-says-it-was",
        "published": "2026-09-16T13:30:40.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}