This Loop Tour of Ed Sheeran, which was scheduled to run until November on the grounds of North and South America, has come into chaos because all the support act groups of Ed have decided to leave him.
Ben Haggerty, also known as rapper Macklemore, started touring with Sheeran in New Jersey earlier this month. His performance opened with MetLife Stadium and included Macklemore wearing a black and white keffiyeh while saying "Free Palestine" prior to his protest song "Hind's Hall."
In an interview on Monday, Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots, stated that Macklemore would no longer be welcome in Gillette Stadium, which is owned by the Kraft Group. Kraft claimed that due to the recent actions taken by Macklemore, the content that was presented by him on the stage in New Jersey, as well as the history of antisemitism that, in his opinion, was harmful for the Jewish community, he will no longer be able to perform there.
Macklemore explained on Instagram that various venues across America, led by Kraft, had told the promoter that they would blacklist him from playing and that he had been dropped from the remaining concerts of Sheeran's tour in America.
Sheeran kept quiet about the dispute until September 15, when he issued a statement. He denounced the strife that had broken out between Israel and Palestine and called what was happening to the people on both sides a tragedy for humans, stating that there were far too many wars in the world and that they were causing irreparable harm.
Sheeran also dissociated himself from the matter, stating that it was the promoter's decision to have Macklemore leave the tour and not his because Macklemore's agreement was with the promoter and not with him. Sheeran said that he could not let down his fans, who had made arrangements, and his crew and other supporting acts.
This did not end the dispute. Four artists withdrew from the tour within hours on Instagram.
Finneas, the producer and brother of Billie Eilish, who was slated to tour South America with Sheeran this year, noted that artists should not be silenced in advocating for the oppressed and that he supports Palestine and its people.
The Irish folk band, Beoga, which had been Sheeran's house band for some time, performing a number of co-written tunes in the middle of Sheeran's show, also pulled out.
The band called themselves friends of Sheeran for over a decade and founding members of the Irish Artists for Palestine campaign, noting that they will continue to be active in advocating for justice. Their post was captioned "Saoirse don Pháilistín"—meaning "Freedom for Palestine" in Irish.
Ireland-born singer-songwriter Aaron Rowe, who said that Sheeran is a friend that has changed his life, noted that being an Irishman, he knows much about famine and occupation and can no longer sit idle and watch billionaires using their money to silence others.
Lukas Graham, a Danish band, described it as a tough call and stated that nobody's bank account should decide who gets to speak. Rowe and Lukas Graham were supposed to take Sheeran's place on the US leg of the tour, replacing Macklemore.
The Loop Tour is a big deal. It started touring in New Zealand and Australia back in January 2026 and will soon begin the stadium part of its journey in North America starting from June 13, playing at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Its end date is marked for November 7 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.
The Loop Tour backs up Sheeran's eighth studio album Play. And as usual, Ed Sheeran brings a brand-new set design for his show.
Dates ahead include Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, followed by two dates at Gillette Stadium, the heart of the conflict, on September 25 and 26.
