Protests and walkouts trail Ed Sheeran’s Philadelphia performance

Activists from the Philly Palestine Coalition and Shut Down D&Z picketed near the stadium and the nearby SEPTA station, displaying signs criticizing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and demanding support for Gaza. The protest followed Macklemore’s exit from the tour, which the rapper attributed to pressure from stadium owners—specifically Robert Kraft—who allegedly threatened to block Sheeran’s shows unless the rapper was removed. Macklemore, who performed his protest song “Hind’s Hall” in New Jersey, stated that Sheeran was placed in an impossible position.

Sheeran addressed the controversy from the stage, condemning both the October 7 Hamas-led attacks and the subsequent civilian devastation in Gaza. While he apologized for his handling of the situation, he emphasized that the decision to cut the tour’s lineup came from promoter Messina Touring Group. The singer maintained he would continue the tour to protect the livelihoods of his crew and support staff. The fallout has been significant: Finneas, Lukas Graham, and Sheeran’s longtime backing band, Beoga, have withdrawn from the tour in solidarity with Macklemore. As the tour continues, the secondary ticket market showed signs of softening, with resale prices for the Philadelphia date dropping significantly in the hours leading up to the show.