Ed Sheeran Faces Boycott and Openers' Exit Ahead of Philadelphia Concert Following Macklemore Tour Controversy

Ed Sheeran is set to return to the stage at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia this Saturday for the first time since rapper Macklemore was expelled from his United States tour over comments supporting Palestine. The decision sparked a significant backlash, leading all of Sheeran's opening acts to withdraw from the performances.

Artists including Finneas, the brother and collaborator of Billie Eilish, along with Danish band Lukas Graham and Irish singer Aaron Rowe, dropped out of various tour dates in solidarity with Macklemore and Gaza. Palestinian advocacy groups, such as the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI), have subsequently called for a comprehensive boycott of Sheeran's entire world tour, including upcoming Latin American and European legs. A pro-Palestinian rally is also planned near the Philadelphia venue ahead of the concert.

The controversy began after Macklemore chanted “free Palestine” during a New Jersey show on September 5, which prompted billionaire Robert Kraft to push for the rapper's removal. In response to the fallout, artists in Gaza City painted a mural dedicated to Macklemore on the rubble of a destroyed building, thanking him for using his voice. Meanwhile, Ed Sheeran has released a statement asserting that he is not complicit and denying responsibility for Macklemore's removal.