Ed Sheeran’s Tour Is Taking A Different Shape

The fate of Ed Sheeran performing before a sold-out crowd is urgently in limbo, thanks to the Macklemore fallout!

The “Shape of You” singer, who has built a cult following over the years and normalized a full arena of audience members blasting back his lyrics, may experience a different atmosphere in Philadelphia as his show is set to commence tonight, September 19.

Ed Sheeran’s name has lingered in the news for days now after Macklemore publicly shared that the singer told him via phone call that Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft wanted him off the “Loop” tour.

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As the Grammy winner gears up to take the stage at Lincoln Financial Field, StubHub, a ticket-selling outlet, has confirmed that hundreds of tickets between the prices of $56 and $251 are still up for grabs.

With hours left for the singer to appear on stage in Philadelphia, heavy clouds of uncertainty have been cast over the possibility of the show being tagged “sold out.”

Outside the arena, Sheeran has had to deal with pushback from pro-Palestine protest groups who have blamed him for his apolitical stance and refusal to speak up in defense of Macklemore. The “Can’t Hold Us” singer was shown the door on tour after a performance in New Jersey where he made some remarks in favor of Palestine.

Macklemore, alongside Lukas Graham, Finneas, Aaron Rowe, and Sheeran’s backing band, Beoga, have all now taken a permanent break from the rest of the tour on the basis that some conditions to perform do not align with their interests and morals.

As noted by TMZ, some musicians like Roger Waters have equally blamed Sheeran for caving in to pressure and sending Macklemore off, although Sheeran insisted it was the promoters that made the call, not him.

The ‘Thinking Out Loud’ Singer’s Concert Likely To Be A Protest Spot

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Aside from the lag in ticket sales, Sheeran may also get to witness some protest from two pro-Palestine groups who will physically express their displeasure with the manner of Macklemore’s exit from his tour.

As shared by The Blast on September 17, the Philly Palestine Coalition and Shut Down D&Z earlier called on supporters to gather outside Lincoln Financial Field on September 19. 

According to flyers creating awareness about the protest, the group planned to target the billionaires and pro-zionists, stressing that everyone supporting the war in Gaza is not a friend of Philadelphia.

Sheeran’s history with Lincoln Financial Field goes all the way back to 2023, when he set the all-time attendance record for a concert at the venue in June of that year, pulling 77,900 fans during his “Mathematics” tour.

Tonight’s show has attracted heightened security attention around the venue as local police have reportedly been deployed to ensure the planned demonstrations outside the venue do not escalate into something disastrous.

Ed Sheeran Reportedly Wanted Robert Kraft And Other Stadium Owners To Match His Donations

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Right before Macklemore’s challenge and million-dollar donation dominated the headlines, Kraft recently shared that Sheeran had been making moves behind the scenes to get him and others to commit huge sums to humanitarian efforts.

In a public statement, the stadium owner explained that Sheeran privately urged him to match his $2 million donation to provide relief in Gaza and combat the ongoing humanitarian crisis. He continued that Sheeran also had plans to contact more stadium owners and billionaires to match his donation and build helpful bridges.

Macklemore, after his removal from the tour, hopped on Instagram to inform the public that he would like to redirect their attention towards Palestine and the horrors going on there.

On the live, he pledged to donate all his net earnings from opening on Sheeran’s tour to six organizations supporting Palestine while beckoning on Kraft to match his donation.

“Whatever we disagree about, perhaps we can agree on this: Palestinian lives are worth protecting. A Palestinian life is no less valuable than any other life on this earth,” Macklemore stressed.

The Grammy Winner Reaffirmed His Commitment To Keep Performing On The ‘Loop’ Tour

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Sheeran, explaining his side of the story, noted that his platform has for years brought people across the world together for the love of music. He stated that the central theme of his shows and career still has not changed, while adding that fans who attend his show do not expect a political gathering.

The Blast shared that Sheeran’s ongoing tour, which has about 17 dates left, will carry on with the musician as the solo act. The singer’s solo appearance has not posed a concern to his team, who have watched him take down big arenas in the past without a band.

Speaking of a band, Beoga, who have sung with Sheeran at several arenas across the world for over a decade, explained in their statement that they appreciated Sheeran’s decision to carry them along.

However, they continued that they have decided to leave the tour in support of Macklemore’s speech, as they also supported Palestine as founding members of the Irish Artists for Palestine movement.

Ed Sheeran’s Music Pulled From Irish Radio Station’s Playlist

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While the songwriter deals with the backlash of the public over Macklemore’s exit, an independent Irish radio station, Classic Hits Radio, has removed Sheeran’s songs from its line-up for the foreseeable future.

The singer’s tunes have ruled the airwaves for years, but events over the past few days have seemingly changed public perception of his craft. According to an official from the establishment, several callers have asked that a huge adjustment be made to their music playlist to exclude Sheeran’s tracks as much as possible.

Due to their status as an independent radio station, Kelly noted that these requests must be considered and respected. On his part, Sheeran has stressed that the move to remove Macklemore became dire when the remaining venues for upcoming dates threatened to pull out if Macklemore would still open for Sheeran.

He expressed that his personal views on the conflict in the region remained his, and he has been appalled by the violent exchange. The singer reaffirmed his respect for Macklemore as an artist, as the rest of his dates remain unchanged for now.

Will the tide turn in Ed Sheeran’s favor with a sold-out show?