All eyes on Ed Sheeran’s Philly show after the Macklemore fallout
Sheeran plays Lincoln Financial Field for the first time since Macklemore was dropped from his tour.
Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for iHeartRadio
Ed Sheeran kicks off his first concert since the drama tomorrow night in Philly. Earlier in the month, Ed performed a show at MetLife Stadium on September 4 and September 5, 2026. Macklemore was one of the openers for the two nights, videos spread all across social media of Macklemore’s set because he did a speech about Palestine and in that speech he said two words “Free Palestine”.
Pink subsequently addressed the onstage remarks and subsequent backlash, explaining her reaction as a concerned Jewish mother rather than an attempt to censor other artists. In her statement, she addressed the rhetoric directly, noting that Macklemore took the microphone to tell Jewish audience members "that it wasn't about them," adding, "You don't get to decide that for us."
The fallout intensified when billionaire Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium, barred Macklemore from performing at his venue. Macklemore alleged that Kraft spearheaded the effort to have him removed entirely by rallying other NFL stadium owners to issue an ultimatum to the tour promoters. Kraft defended his decision, stating that Macklemore's rhetoric crossed a line and was deeply offensive to the Jewish community.
Amid the ongoing dispute, Macklemore pledged to donate $1 million of his tour earnings to Palestinian relief and challenged Kraft to match it; Kraft countered by announcing a $2 million donation to humanitarian aid in the region, noting that Sheeran had personally called and asked him to match the singer's own $2 million commitment.
As Ed Sheeran takes the stage tonight in Philadelphia, all eyes are on how the crowd will react to the ongoing fallout. While some predict the stadium could see unusually empty sections due to fans boycotting the tour, others expect a full house of loyal listeners. Regardless of the final turnout, the atmosphere outside is bound to be tense, as several groups have already announced plans to protest near the venue entrance. It remains to be seen whether the pop star will address the controversy directly to the crowd or let the music speak for itself.