Ed Sheeran addressed his concert crowd in tears after opener Macklemore was dropped from the Loop Tour. Get the full music news breakdown inside.
Four-time Grammy Award winner Ed Sheeran broke down in tears during his September 19, 2026 performance at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia after an intense week of industry backlash. The stadium concert marked Sheeran's first live show since tour promoter Messina Touring Group and major stadium owners dropped rapper Macklemore from the remaining United States dates of the massive Loop Tour. The controversial removal triggered a domino effect across the music industry, prompting high-profile supporting acts like FINNEAS, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe, and backing band Beoga to exit the tour in protest, forcing Sheeran to hire a replacement band just days before taking the stage.
Why Was Macklemore Removed From Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour?
The fallout began during a September 4 performance at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where opening artist Macklemore made impassioned pro-Palestinian comments from the stage.
- Stadium Owner Demands: Billionaire venue executives, including New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, notified tour organizers that Macklemore would not be permitted to perform at Gillette Stadium and other NFL venues.
- Promoter Intervention: Faced with potential multi-city stadium cancellations that threatened hundreds of thousands of ticket holders, Messina Touring Group officially removed Macklemore from the lineup.
- Sheeran's Neutral Stance Tested: Sheeran stated publicly that while he tried to broker a compromise, the decision was made independently by venue operators and promoters rather than his personal team.
How Did Supporting Acts React to Macklemore's Removal?
Macklemore's dismissal created an immediate wave of solidarity among the tour's remaining roster, leading to mass walkouts across the lineup.
- High-Profile Withdrawals: FINNEAS (brother and producer for Billie Eilish), Danish pop group Lukas Graham, and Irish singer Aaron Rowe all pulled out of their remaining tour dates.
- Backing Band Exits: Longtime collaborators Beoga, the Irish folk band that accompanied Sheeran live during specific setlists, also departed the tour.
- Scrambling for Replacements: Sheeran addressed the Philadelphia crowd of 50,000 fans alone, admitting he struggled to find backing musicians willing to stand on stage with him during such a tense news cycle.
What Did Ed Sheeran Say During His Emotional Speech in Philadelphia?
Addressing the audience at Lincoln Financial Field, an emotional Sheeran openly wept as he discussed the personal toll the controversy had taken on his life and career.
- Feeling Abandoned: Sheeran revealed that lifelong friends, industry peers, and close associates had distanced themselves from him during the fallout.
- Increased Security Measures: The singer took extra safety precautions, removing a B-stage setup that usually brought him closer to the crowd over concerns that objects might be thrown at him.
- Charitable Relief Contributions: Macklemore pledged $1 million from his tour earnings to Palestinian relief funds, prompting Robert Kraft and Sheeran to arrange an additional $2 million contribution toward regional humanitarian relief efforts.
Sheeran is next scheduled to perform at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on September 25 and 26, 2026.