Pro-Palestinian demonstrators assembled outside Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday evening as Ed Sheeran made his return to the stage in Philadelphia. The gathering occurred shortly after the rapper Macklemore was removed from the Loop Tour following his outspoken support for Palestine during recent performances.
Jodi Rhoden, an organizer with Writers Against the War in Gaza, described the protest as part of a larger struggle. “It’s much bigger than Ed Sheeran. It’s much bigger than Macklemore. It’s a movement for Palestinian lives, and it’s not going to stop until Palestine is free,” Rhoden stated. She expressed optimism that public sentiment is shifting, noting that fans are rallying more strongly behind the cause and that a “tipping point” appears to have been reached.
Grace, an 18-year-old college student attending the rally, emphasized the necessity of keeping the conversation alive. She told attendees she hoped Sheeran would acknowledge his role in the controversy and commit to the goal of a free Palestine. The demonstration drew approximately 100 participants and was scheduled for 4:30 p.m., ahead of the singer’s 8 p.m. set.
Organizers from Writers Against the War on Gaza, the Boycott Cooknsolo Coalition, and Shut Down Day & Zimmermann were expected to speak. Calls for the protest had also been circulated by the Philly Palestine Coalition and Shut Down Day & Zimmermann.
The unrest follows the abrupt departure of Macklemore from Sheeran’s U.S. stadium tour. During shows at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on September 4 and 5, Macklemore performed his 2024 protest track “Hind’s Hall,” showed footage from Gaza, and called for “Free Palestine.” Days later, tour promoter Messina Touring Group announced the rapper would not appear on remaining dates, citing concerns that several venues would refuse to host the concerts with him on the lineup.
Macklemore has alleged that New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft orchestrated the removal. Kraft, whose company owns Gillette Stadium where Sheeran is scheduled to perform later in September, confirmed he opposed Macklemore’s appearance. He stated that the rapper’s portrayal of the Israel-Hamas conflict ignored Hamas’s actions and fueled divisiveness. Macklemore has rejected accusations that his advocacy constitutes antisemitism.
Sheeran maintains that the decision to drop Macklemore was made by promoters and venue owners, not by him personally. He claimed he attempted to mediate between various stakeholders but was unsuccessful.
The controversy triggered a broader withdrawal from the tour. Supporting acts including Finneas, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe, and the Irish band Beoga, which served as Sheeran’s live backing group, all exited. Consequently, Saturday’s Philadelphia performance was delayed from its originally planned 5:30 p.m. start time to 8 p.m., with Sheeran listed as the sole performer.
In Philadelphia, the Council on American-Islamic Relations chapter issued an open letter to the Philadelphia Eagles, the City of Philadelphia, and Lincoln Financial Group. The organization criticized the exclusion of Macklemore, raised concerns regarding free expression, and submitted a public records request to identify who informed Messina Touring Group that the rapper could no longer perform at the venue.
Philadelphia police indicated they were coordinating with event organizers and the venue to adjust staffing based on safety requirements. A department spokesperson confirmed that officers had been in contact with Sheeran’s team regarding concert security protocols.
Peacefully protesting outside a concert is democracy in action. Glad Philadelphia is standing with Palestine.
Robert Kraft pulling strings behind the scenes is exactly the kind of celebrity interference that frustrates me.
I didn’t know Finneas and Lukas Graham were part of the tour. That’s a huge lineup collapse.
It’s brave of Macklemore to speak out, but dropping an entire supporting cast seems like overkill for a political statement.