All remaining support acts withdraw from Ed Sheeran's US tour after Macklemore dropped
Unbiased summary
Macklemore was removed from the upcoming US dates of Ed Sheeran's Loop tour after making pro-Palestinian remarks during a 4 September concert in New Jersey. The decision was attributed to venue owners, including Robert Kraft, who pressured promoters. Sheeran stated he was not responsible, but all four remaining support acts—Finneas, Aaron Rowe, Lukas Graham, and Beoga—subsequently withdrew in solidarity with Macklemore, citing objections to his silencing. The walkout affects the remaining North American dates, though the tour had been scheduled to continue in South America.
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Coverage by outlet
Morning Star
left
Angle
Frames the story as a politically charged festival and a broader narrative of solidarity with Palestine against Israeli influence.
Bias
The Morning Star emphasises the political nature of the event, linking it to wider geopolitical critiques (e.g., US-Israel relations) and highlighting artists' moral stances. It omits details of Sheeran's attempts to distance himself or the promoter's role, focusing instead on the 'political charge' and the courage of those who withdrew. The tone is implicitly supportive of the pro-Palestinian actions, framing them as necessary resistance.
The Guardian
left
Angle
Presents the story as a principled stand against silencing pro-Palestinian voices, with a sympathetic focus on the supporting acts.
Bias
The Guardian provides detailed quotes from Finneas and Aaron Rowe that frame the withdrawals as moral imperatives, emphasising terms like 'genocide' and 'oppressed'. It highlights Robert Kraft's donation to Israel and the pressure campaign, while downplaying Sheeran's own statement or the promoter's decision. The coverage implicitly endorses the artists' actions and criticises the silencing, though it remains factual in its reporting.
BBC News
centre-left
Angle
Balanced but leans towards a neutral 'news' framing, focusing on the facts and statements without overt advocacy.
Bias
BBC News reports the events chronologically, including Sheeran's denial of responsibility and his explanation about the promoter. It notes the pressure from venues and Jewish groups, but does so without editorialising. It includes both sides' statements, though it gives slightly more space to the withdrawing artists' quotes. The tone is factual and relatively unbiased, though the headline highlights the 'quit' aspect more than the political context.
Daily Mail
right
Angle
Sensationalises the story as a 'cancellation' threat, focusing on the potential career damage to Sheeran and the controversy.
Bias
The Daily Mail uses charged language like 'at risk of being canceled' and 'mass walkout', emphasising the conflict and drama. It highlights Finneas's connection to Billie Eilish to boost interest. It includes Macklemore's past apology for a 'Jewish caricature' costume, which subtly skews the narrative against him. The coverage omits the deeper political context and frames the matter as a celebrity controversy, shifting focus away from the Palestine issue to personal fallout.
GB News
right
Angle
Frames the walkout as a 'mass walkout' and 'bitter row', with a focus on the political pressure and Macklemore's controversial history.
Bias
GB News emphasises the 'pressure campaign' by Robert Kraft and accuses Macklemore of a 'pro-Palestine, anti-Israel stance', using terms like 'fury'. It highlights Macklemore's 2014 apology, which adds negative context. The coverage omits Sheeran's own statements in detail and instead focuses on the 'bitter row' and the disruption to the tour. The tone is adversarial, framing the pro-Palestinian actions as problematic and the walkout as an overreaction.