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Ongoing story / Palestine

Ed Sheeran's US tour and the fight over Macklemore's 'Free Palestine' call

Overview · reviewed November 12, 2026

Ed Sheeran's 2026 US stadium tour was thrown into turmoil in September after his opening act, Macklemore, called for a "Free Palestine" and accused Israel of at a New Jersey show and was then dropped from the tour.[1][2] Sheeran's other supporting acts quit, and Sheeran called the situation in Gaza "catastrophic and unjustifiable."[3][4] Macklemore, Sheeran and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft pledged millions of dollars for Palestinian aid.[5]

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Sheeran's other supporting acts quit, and Sheeran called the situation in Gaza "catastrophic and unjustifiable."[3][4] Macklemore, Sheeran and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft pledged millions of dollars for Palestinian aid.[5]

Coverage over time

Share of tracked outlets · weekly (UTC)

Week of 2026-08-31 (UTC): 1%, 3 of 475 tracked outlets (1 left, 0 center, 2 right)Week of 2026-09-07 (UTC): 1%, 4 of 480 tracked outlets (0 left, 2 center, 2 right)Week of 2026-09-14 (UTC): 19%, 90 of 480 tracked outlets (26 left, 44 center, 20 right)Week of 2026-09-21 (UTC): 10%, 48 of 479 tracked outlets (9 left, 30 center, 9 right)Week of 2026-09-28 (UTC): 1%, 5 of 476 tracked outlets (0 left, 2 center, 3 right)Week of 2026-10-05 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-10-12 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-10-19 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-10-26 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outletsWeek of 2026-11-02 (UTC): 2%, 9 of 471 tracked outlets (0 left, 5 center, 4 right)Week of 2026-11-09 (UTC): no coverage from tracked outlets, so far

LeftCenterRightLighter bar: this week so far

Each bar is the share of the outlets on our Left / Center / Right rating scale that we tracked publishing that week which carried reporting on this story, split by the outlets' ratings. We track more outlets now than in the archive, so a share keeps earlier and later weeks comparable. An outlet counts once a week however much it published, and outlets in one ownership or syndication group count as one on each side they appear on. A rating describes the outlet, not the report. A gap means no such reports were collected that week, not that nothing was reported anywhere. Weeks run Monday to Sunday in UTC, so a report published on a Sunday evening in US Eastern time counts in the next week. 12 more outlets off the scale (not rated, or outside the left-right graphs) also reported; they are not in this chart. See them.

Weekly counts, outlets and reports (6 weeks with coverage)
Outlets on the rating scale that carried this story each week, of the outlets tracked that week, newest first
Week of (UTC)LeftCenterRightOf trackedShareReceipts
Nov 2, 20260549 of 4712%
Sep 28, 20260235 of 4761%
Sep 21, 2026930948 of 47910%
Sep 14, 202626442090 of 48019%
Sep 7, 20260224 of 4801%
Aug 31, 20261023 of 4751%

Latest coverage

The newest reporting in this story's record.

  1. Nov 6, 2026 · first reported · Headline from Pix11

    Macklemore names MSG among venues rejecting ‘Free Palestine’ benefit tour

Background

At MetLife Stadium in New Jersey in early September 2026, Macklemore, opening for Ed Sheeran, called for a "Free Palestine," accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza and performed his protest song "Hind's Hall." Jewish and Israeli advocacy groups objected.[1] The singer Pink faced a backlash of her own for resharing a call to drop him from the tour.[6] A coalition of NFL owners deemed Macklemore unfit to perform in their stadiums, and his 10 scheduled dates on the tour were cut to two.[2]

Read the full background (2 more paragraphs)

After he was dropped, all of Sheeran's other supporting acts withdrew in solidarity,[3] among them the singer Rowe, who accused billionaires of using their power to silence those speaking out about Gaza.[7] Macklemore said he would give his $1 million in net earnings from the tour to six Palestinian aid groups and challenged Kraft to match it. Kraft said Sheeran had asked him to match a $2 million donation,[5] and he pledged $2 million.[8] Macklemore went on to announce a Free Palestine Tour, with proceeds going to Palestinian aid groups,[9] and said its three shows, in Dublin, Paris and London, sold out immediately.[10]

When Sheeran resumed the tour in Philadelphia, he apologized to fans and said the October 7 attacks were horrific and the situation in Gaza "catastrophic and unjustifiable," as protesters gathered outside.[4][11] Resale prices for his shows fell,[12] and he lost nearly half a million Instagram followers.[13] In November, Macklemore said several US venues, including Madison Square Garden, had declined to host his "Free Palestine" benefit tour, and the arena responded with a statement about its decision.[14]

Supporting stories (14)
  1. Macklemore defends ‘Free Palestine’ call after Ed Sheeran concert backlash
  2. Ed Sheeran tour kicks off in Philadelphia with openers unknown
  3. Ed Sheeran is set to return to stage for 1st time since Macklemore was cut and other acts withdrew
  4. Ed Sheeran says situation in Gaza is 'catastrophic and unjustifiable' as he opens concert
  5. Macklemore, Ed Sheeran ask Robert Kraft to donate to Palestinian humanitarian aid
  6. Pink hits back amid backlash for criticizing Macklemore’s anti-Israel concert rant
  7. Ed Sheeran just broke his silence
  8. Patriots owner pledges $2M to Palestinian region at Sheeran's request
  9. Macklemore announces Free Palestine Tour
  10. Macklemore’s Palestine charity tour sold out
  11. What Ed Sheeran told fans before playing a single song in Philadelphia
  12. Ed Sheeran Ticket Prices Plunge After Macklemore Backlash
  13. Ed Sheeran loses nearly half a million followers on Instagram
  14. Macklemore names MSG among venues rejecting ‘Free Palestine’ benefit tour

The full record

Each date is when an update was first reported.

All 22 recorded updates

November 2026

  1. Macklemore names MSG among venues rejecting ‘Free Palestine’ benefit tourHeadline from Pix11 · 15 outlets

September 2026

  1. Macklemore’s Palestine charity tour sold outHeadline from KYMA Yuma · 6 outlets
  2. Kathy Griffin says Ed Sheeran should’ve told Robert Kraft to ‘go f–k yourself’ over MacklemoreHeadline from New York Post · 3 outlets
  3. Ed Sheeran shows at Robert Kraft’s stadium canceled due to bad weatherHeadline from News Nation Now · 43 outlets
  4. Ed Sheeran loses nearly half a million followers on InstagramHeadline from Phl17 · 7 outlets
  5. Macklemore announces Free Palestine TourHeadline from NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth · 26 outlets
  6. What Ed Sheeran told fans before playing a single song in PhiladelphiaHeadline from MLive · 5 outlets
  7. Ed Sheeran says situation in Gaza is 'catastrophic and unjustifiable' as he opens concertHeadline from Philadelphia Inquirer · 36 outlets
  8. For Palestinian aid groups, Macklemore's $1M pledge brings relief and attention to ongoing sufferingHeadline from Philadelphia Inquirer · 7 outlets
  9. Patriots owner pledges $2M to Palestinian region at Sheeran's requestHeadline from Richmond Times-Dispatch · 1 outlet
  10. YouTube star Ms Rachel to match Macklemore’s $1m Palestine aid donationHeadline from The Guardian · 7 outlets
  11. Ed Sheeran stadium drama turns to donations and humanitarian cooperationHeadline from Local News 8 · 8 outlets
  12. Ed Sheeran Ticket Prices Plunge After Macklemore BacklashHeadline from Newsweek · 4 outlets
  13. Macklemore, Ed Sheeran ask Robert Kraft to donate to Palestinian humanitarian aidHeadline from The Hill · 26 outlets
  14. Ed Sheeran is set to return to stage for 1st time since Macklemore was cut and other acts withdrewHeadline from WFMZ Allentown · 11 outlets
  15. Ed Sheeran just broke his silenceHeadline from Cleveland Plain Dealer · 8 outlets
  16. NFL owner reacts to Macklemore’s accusation with statementHeadline from NJ.com / Star-Ledger · 5 outlets
  17. Ed Sheeran breaks his silence after Macklemore controversy throws tour into chaosHeadline from Fast Company · 22 outlets
  18. Macklemore speaks out after being abruptly dropped from 'friend' Ed Sheeran's tour: 'I consider him a brother'Headline from NJ.com / Star-Ledger · 5 outlets
  19. Ed Sheeran tour kicks off in Philadelphia with openers unknownHeadline from Phl17 · 85 outlets
  20. Pink hits back amid backlash for criticizing Macklemore’s anti-Israel concert rantHeadline from New York Post · 6 outlets
  21. Macklemore defends ‘Free Palestine’ call after Ed Sheeran concert backlashHeadline from Al Jazeera · 8 outlets

Coverage & sources

Read the reports, see how much was collected over time, or compare outlets by political leaning.

Coverage & sources →