Every act on Ed Sheeran's tour has quit. His next show is tonight.

Ed Sheeran’s highly anticipated Loop Tour has encountered significant turmoil ahead of its upcoming North American shows, most notably the scheduled concert at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field. This disruption follows the removal of rapper Macklemore from the tour lineup, an action that has sparked solidarity withdrawals from all remaining opening acts and Sheeran’s backing band.

The controversy originated after Macklemore, who opened for Sheeran in recent shows, used his platform to voice support for Palestine, including performing a protest song dedicated to a young Palestinian girl killed in Gaza. His outspoken stance prompted backlash from various groups and influential figures, including NFL stadium owners, who threatened to cancel tour dates if he remained on the bill. Due to these pressures, Macklemore was dropped by the tour promoter, a decision publicly distanced from Sheeran himself, who stated the choice was made by the venues and promoter.

Following Macklemore’s departure, the rest of Sheeran’s support lineup — including Irish singer Aaron Rowe, Danish pop band Lukas Graham, American songwriter Finneas, and the Irish folk band Beoga — announced their withdrawal in protest. These artists cited solidarity with Palestine and a stance against what they described as silencing voices that speak out against oppression. Their statements referenced historical parallels with colonization and oppression relevant to their own backgrounds, emphasizing a shared commitment to justice and human rights.

Finneas, known for his solo work and as the brother of Billie Eilish, explicitly linked his withdrawal to his political views and support for Palestine. Rowe and Beoga underscored their Irish heritage and activism, drawing connections between their history and the contemporary conflict, explaining their refusal to participate in the tour under current circumstances.

As a result of these departures, Sheeran was reportedly preparing to perform solo, without any opening acts or his usual backing band, for the Philadelphia show and subsequent dates. The concert time was delayed from early evening until later to accommodate these changes. The absence of supporting performers marks a stark departure from the originally planned multi-artist lineup.

This shakeup has also affected ticket sales, with resale prices for the Philadelphia date dropping significantly since the announcement of the lineup changes. Questions remain about refund policies, as ticket vendors generally note that cancellations or changes to opening acts do not guarantee refunds. However, some reports indicate that the venue has begun issuing refunds in light of the altered schedule and artist lineup.

The political controversy surrounding Macklemore’s comments and subsequent removal reflects a larger tension between artistic expression and commercial interests in live music events. Venue owners, including those of Gillette Stadium and others, reportedly threatened to cancel upcoming shows if Macklemore remained, signaling the influence these stakeholders wield over tour programming.

In the midst of the dispute, Macklemore pledged to donate all earnings he received from the tour to Palestinian aid organizations and challenged prominent figures associated with the stadium owners to match his contribution. NFL team owners, including Robert Kraft, publicly responded with their own charitable commitments toward humanitarian efforts in the region.

Despite the ongoing upheaval, Sheeran has so far refrained from direct public comment beyond clarifying that the decision to remove Macklemore was not his. He emphasized a desire to keep his concerts apolitical spaces, a stance that some have questioned given his previous public support for other causes.

With the Loop Tour scheduled to continue across multiple U.S. cities and Latin America into December, the full impact of these withdrawals remains to be seen. Details on whether the tour will adjust further or how ticket holders will be compensated for the changed performances are still limited. The unfolding situation underscores the complex intersection of music, activism, and commercial pressures in today’s live entertainment landscape.