Ed Sheeran is facing a new wave of backlash over the removal of Macklemore from his US Loop Tour, with an Irish radio station pulling his music from its playlist and pro-Palestinian groups preparing to protest outside his upcoming Philadelphia concert.
Classic Hits Radio, an Irish-owned station operated by Bay Broadcasting, confirmed that Sheeran’s music would be removed from its playlist from 17 September and remain off the schedule “for the foreseeable future”. The station said the decision followed feedback from listeners and the withdrawal of several artists from Sheeran’s tour.
The move does not represent a blanket ban across Irish radio. RTÉ said on Friday that there had been no decision to remove Sheeran’s music from its radio stations, underscoring that Classic Hits’ decision is specific to that broadcaster.
Why Classic Hits Radio removed Ed Sheeran’s music
Dave Kelly, group programme director at Bay Broadcasting, said the decision had been carefully considered and was not intended as a personal judgement of Sheeran.
The station said it had received strong feedback from listeners concerning the events surrounding the US tour. It also pointed to the decisions by Irish artists Aaron Rowe and Beoga to withdraw from the tour.
Classic Hits said it recognised that there were differing views about what happened and acknowledged Sheeran’s explanation that the decision to remove Macklemore was not his.
Kelly said the station believed in “peace, humanity and respect” and supported the right of artists to express sincerely held views.
The decision is therefore being presented by the broadcaster as a programming response to audience sentiment and the wider reaction within Ireland’s music community, rather than as a declaration that Sheeran himself endorsed a particular position on the Israel-Gaza conflict.
How the Macklemore controversy started
The dispute centres on Macklemore’s appearances as a support act during Sheeran’s US tour.
During his performances at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey earlier this month, Macklemore spoke in support of Palestinians and performed his protest song “Hind’s Hall”, which was released in 2024 in response to the war in Gaza.
Following the performances, the Israeli-American Council launched a petition calling for Macklemore to be removed from the remaining tour dates.
Macklemore subsequently said he was told that opposition from stadium owners had contributed to his removal. Reuters reported that tour promoter Messina Touring Group said venue owners had refused to host shows featuring Macklemore.
The rapper has specifically alleged that New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft played a role in pressuring Sheeran and other venue owners.
Kraft has disputed the characterisation of his position and cited concerns about Macklemore’s recent comments and previous controversies involving accusations of antisemitic rhetoric. Those claims remain part of the broader public dispute rather than a settled finding.
Sheeran says the decision was not his
Sheeran has publicly rejected the suggestion that he personally decided to remove Macklemore.
In a statement posted on Instagram, the British singer said venues on upcoming tour dates had communicated that they would withdraw the shows if Macklemore remained part of the supporting line-up.
Sheeran said he had spoken with venues, promoters and people on opposing sides of the dispute in an attempt to find a compromise, but said the final decision rested with the promoter and venues.
He also explained why he generally avoids using his concerts as political platforms, saying his audiences include young people and children from different backgrounds.
At the same time, Sheeran said he respected Macklemore’s right to express his convictions and argued that there could be different approaches to advocating for peace.
The promoter’s role has also been independently reported. Reuters said Messina Touring Group attributed the decision to venue restrictions, while Associated Press reported that the dispute highlights the different levels of influence held by artists, promoters and venue owners during major stadium tours.
Four supporting acts withdraw from the tour
The controversy intensified when the other supporting acts on Sheeran’s US tour withdrew.
The artists and groups include:
- Finneas
- Lukas Graham
- Aaron Rowe
- Beoga
Irish performers Rowe and Beoga were particularly significant to the reaction in Ireland, with Classic Hits Radio specifically referring to the decisions made by Irish artists when explaining its programming change.
The withdrawals mean Sheeran’s upcoming US dates are continuing amid substantial changes to the planned supporting line-up.
Philadelphia concert faces planned protest
The controversy is also moving onto the streets.
The Philly Palestine Coalition and Shut Down D&Z have announced plans for a demonstration outside Sheeran’s Philadelphia concert at Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday, 19 September.
The groups have linked the protest directly to Macklemore’s removal and are using the event to draw attention to the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Their campaign material contains strongly political language, including references to “Free Palestine” and criticism of billionaires and Zionism. These are the groups’ own stated positions and should not be interpreted as statements from Sheeran, his promoter or the venue.
Philadelphia authorities and event organisers are preparing for demonstrations around the concert, according to local reporting.
The dispute is now bigger than one opening act
What began as a disagreement over a support act has developed into a wider debate about the boundaries between music, politics, commercial venues and freedom of expression.
For Sheeran, the central argument is that the decision was ultimately made by promoters and venues after concerns about Macklemore’s performances. For Macklemore and his supporters, the removal has become an example of what they regard as pressure against pro-Palestinian expression.
The competing positions have also placed commercial broadcasters in a difficult position. Classic Hits Radio has chosen to respond to listener sentiment by removing Sheeran’s music, while RTÉ has explicitly said it has no plans to do the same.
That distinction is important: there is currently no evidence of an industry-wide ban on Ed Sheeran’s music in Ireland. Instead, one broadcaster has made an editorial programming decision while another major broadcaster has said it will continue playing his music.
Meanwhile, Sheeran’s US tour is continuing, with Philadelphia scheduled as the next major stop on 19 September. The concert will take place against the backdrop of protests, changes to the supporting line-up and an increasingly public dispute over where political expression belongs within live entertainment.
