Backing Acts Abandon Ed Sheeran, Left Him Alone After Macklemore Drama

Ed Sheeran took to the stage at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Saturday night, but the show was more than a concert.

The pop star said he’d lost family and close friends after his opening acts— including his own backing band—quit in solidarity with rapper Macklemore, who had been dropped from the Loop Tour following pro‑Palestine comments.

During the performance, Sheeran broke into tears and sat cross‑legged onstage, reflecting on what he described as a “weird week.” He told the crowd that fans were buying tickets while people he’d known for years were backing away. “People will say what they want, but I am doing this for you. I love you.

I love this,” the 35‑year‑old singer said, stressing that he was performing for his audience amid a turbulent week.

The incident has drawn attention to the broader fallout from Macklemore’s removal, the financial contributions made by the rapper and stadium owner Robert Kraft, and accusations that Sheeran abandoned family members. The following sections break down the facts, reactions, and what lies ahead for the pop star.

## Background & Context

Macklemore, 43, was pulled from a performance on the Loop Tour after delivering a speech that included “Free Palestine” remarks. The tour’s stadium owners refused to let him perform at their venues. In response, Macklemore said he had been pressured into dropping the rapper but later clarified that he had made the decision himself.

He donated $1 million of his tour earnings to Palestinian relief and urged Robert Kraft, the owner of Gillette Stadium, to match the donation.

Kraft, 85, who owns both the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, replied by contributing $2 million after Sheeran reportedly asked him to do so.

In a statement, Kraft emphasized his commitment to “help people come together” and that “all lives are worth protecting.” The monetary exchange underscored the stakes involved in the dispute over the rapper’s presence on tour.

Sheeran’s set at Lincoln Financial Field was fraught with security concerns. Ahead of the show, he took drastic measures because he feared objects might be thrown at him onstage.

He explained that he would usually perform from a B stage but had to move it due to safety worries, admitting, “I took the B stage out because I was afraid of what might happen if I stood in the middle.”

## What People Are Saying

During the concert, Sheeran reflected on the week’s events. In video footage captured by a fan, he said, “In these situations you really find out who your friends are. It’s been a weird week.” He added that many of those he’d known for years were backing away, even as ticket sales for the show continued to rise.

The singer later cried while expressing gratitude for the audience’s support, stating, “The world is a scary place right now, America is a scary place right now… This gives hope.”

Sheeran did not name the family members who had allegedly abandoned him. However, his cousin Jethro Sheeran publicly criticized him on Instagram on Thursday.

Jethro wrote that he was “ashamed of my cousin Ed” and that the pop star “made fun of my mental health.” He called Ed “a selfish individual with malicious, cunning ways,” and referred to him as a “shady” and “coward” in his post.

Jethro’s comments added a personal dimension to the controversy, though she was not named in official statements from the singer.

The rapper Macklemore remained steadfast in his stance. He reiterated that he had donated all earnings he earned before being dropped from the tour, totaling $1 million, to aid Palestinian relief efforts. He also urged Kraft to match the donation and called for unity in addressing the broader conflict.

The financial gestures from both Macklemore and Kraft highlighted how the dispute transcended a single tour leg and entered a larger humanitarian context.

## What Happens Next

Ed Sheeran’s next scheduled performances are on September 25 and 26 at Gillette Stadium, the venue owned by Robert Kraft. These dates bring the tour into direct contact with the stadium owner who recently matched Macklemore’s donation. The two-day show will likely attract scrutiny from both sides of the debate.

It remains unclear whether Sheeran will adjust his security measures for those upcoming dates or if he will continue to perform from the B stage. No official statements have confirmed whether the singer’s backing band or other opening acts will rejoin him. The artist’s focus, , remains on his fans: “I am doing this for you.

I love you.”

As for the family dispute, there is no public statement from Sheeran addressing the claims made by Jethro Sheeran or any other relatives. The situation may evolve if further comments surface from either party.

Meanwhile, the broader conversation about artist activism, stadium policies, and political expression continues to play out on social media and in industry circles.

In the meantime, fans of Ed Sheeran can expect to see him perform at Gillette Stadium next month, where both the pop star and the stadium owner’s recent donation efforts intersect.

The coming weeks will determine whether the tour can move past the controversy or if it will continue to shape the narrative around music, politics, and personal relationships.