An Irish radio station has pulled Ed Sheeran's music from its playlist, and protest groups are organizing outside his upcoming Philadelphia show, as fallout from Macklemore's removal as a support act on the Loop Tour continues to widen. The controversy traces to Macklemore's opening performances at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on September 4 and 5, where he called for a free Palestine and performed his song "Hind's Hall."
Classic Hits Radio, operated by Bay Broadcasting, announced the ban on Thursday. Dave Kelly, the company's group programme director, told The Independent the decision "has been carefully considered" and "is not intended as a personal judgment on Ed Sheeran." Kelly framed the move as a response to listener feedback and a statement of solidarity with Irish artists who had already walked off the tour on principle. The station said it would keep Sheeran off its playlist for the "foreseeable future."
The venue ultimatum and the walkouts
Four other acts exited the Loop Tour after Macklemore was dropped: Irish artists Aaron Rowe and Beoga, alongside Lukas Graham and Finneas. Macklemore publicly alleged that New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft threatened to block Sheeran from performing at Gillette Stadium and encouraged other venue owners to issue similar conditions.
Sheeran pushed back on Instagram, writing that after the New Jersey shows, venues told him they would cancel upcoming dates if Macklemore remained on the bill. The objection, Sheeran said, was specific to how Macklemore delivered part of his message during those sets. He spent the following week in talks with venues, including a direct conversation with Kraft, and participated in negotiations involving promoters and activists from both sides. His account placed the final decision with the promoter: Macklemore's contract was with the promoter, not with Sheeran. "I am not complicit," he wrote, adding that he keeps politics off his professional platform because his audience includes children of varied backgrounds who attend his concerts expecting something other than a political forum.
Philadelphia protest
Pro-Palestine organizations Philly Palestine Coalition and Shut Down D&Z announced a demonstration outside Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia for September 19, timed to a Sheeran concert at the venue. Both groups posted a flyer on Instagram, citing Macklemore's removal and describing pressure from stadium owners, including Lincoln Financial Field, as the cause. They characterized Sheeran's stated neutrality as complicity.
Fox News Digital reported it reached out to Sheeran's representatives and received no immediate response.