{
  "id": 7835465,
  "title": "Ed Sheeran's supporting acts quit US tour after Macklemore dropped over pro-Palestine comments",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/ed-sheerans-supporting-acts-quit-us-tour-after-macklemore-dropped",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-16T17:38:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Jerusalem Post",
    "slug": "jerusalem-post",
    "url": "https://www.jpost.com/international/article-908804"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Ed Sheeran's four supporting acts for his US tour have resigned after the singer removed rapper Macklemore from the lineup, according to The Telegraph. Irish folk band Beoga cited Zionist lobbies silencing Macklemore, arguing that free speech is crucial for advancing Palestinian rights. Finneas, the brother of pop star Billie Eilish, stated that artists should not remain silent when they advocate for the oppressed. Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe, and US Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) also withdrew from the tour. Rowe accused Israel of committing genocide, relating his Irish heritage to his knowledge of historical genocides and forced famine. AOC accused pro-Israel philanthropist Robert Kraft of attempting to censor speech on Gaza's genocide, stating that she cannot comprehend how Sheeran could be complicit in Kraft and stadium owners' efforts to silence Macklemore.",
  "summary": "AOC said earlier on Wednesday that she is boycotting Sheeran over the Macklemore controversy, accusing pro-Israel philanthropist Robert Kraft of attempting to censor speech on \"the genocide in Gaza.\"",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 7,
    "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": "Egypt Independent",
        "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",
        "published": "2026-09-16T12:32:41.000Z"
      },
      {
        "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"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "What to know about Ed Sheeran’s tour after Macklemore was cut and artists dropped out",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/what-to-know-about-ed-sheerans-tour-after-macklemore-was-cut-and",
        "published": "2026-09-16T15:30:12.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}