Macklemore’s impassioned mid-set protest speech about the state of affairs in Gaza and the occupied West Bank drew accusations of hate speech and antisemitism from several prominent Jewish voices, including singer Pink, the Israeli American Council and billionaire Robert Kraft. Following a reported direct intervention by Kraft, who owns the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA, where the tour will stop later this week, Macklemore was forced to leave the run, allegedly by Sheeran’s management team.

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The ensuing backlash saw Sheeran come under continuous fire on social media for dropping the American rapper for speaking out, and saw Sheeran’s own morals scrutinised for his attempts to remain politically neutral throughout. As the dominoes fell, all of the support acts withdrew themselves from the tour – US genius FINNEAS, Danish group Lukas Graham, and Irish acts Aaron Rowe and Boega all pulled out, before even Sheeran’s backing musicians also left. Coming into the most recent night of the Loop Tour on Saturday September 19, there were doubts that Ed Sheeran would be able to perform at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field at all. However, in a parallel to the beginning of his career where he gained a reputation for busking and playing hundreds of pop-up shows around the UK, on the night Sheeran turned up and made most of it happen with just a guitar and a microphone (along with some help from new backing musicians). But before the music commenced, he opened the evening with an acknowledgement of the events of this week. He first weighed in on how he’s used to criticism for his music, which he remarks isn’t for everyone, before saying “but this week, the criticism was about something much more important, and I’ve had to take and make difficult decisions, and I am making mistakes, and I’m so, so sorry.”  

 

 

 

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“I don’t want to disappoint fans, and I’ve never wanted to be an activist musician, but this has put me in the middle of an important and passionate argument about freedom of speech and the most complex political issue on the planet,” he added, before speaking about how his priority is to make concerts safe spaces for fans and continue to run the tour for them. Speaking indirectly about the boycott on Macklemore by Kraft and other stadium-owners, he said “I am deeply worried about the idea that venues should pre-approve content for performers. This happens in so many places that I perform around the world, but it should never happen in the free world.”

He then finally spoke about Israel and Palestine, saying “I’ve tried in my career to not be a political commentator of any kind because I want my music and shows to be about unity, not division, about humanity, not politics. But this is a humanitarian issue, and I cannot hide how I feel about it any more.” He cautiously addressed both sides of the ongoing conflict, continuing “what happened in Israel at the Nova music festival on October 7th was horrific and compounded centuries of Jewish pain. What is happening in Gaza is catastrophic, unjustifiable, and disproportionate. My heart has been broken by the scale of devastation and loss of civilians’ lives, of children’s lives. And the systemic injustice we’re seeing unfold in the West Bank cannot be overlooked.”

Later in the show, Sheeran began another statement of how close he came to calling it quits over the tour, and his career as a whole. “Tonight has been honestly the best show of my life,” he told the crowd – “I really didn’t know whether this tour would carry on, I really didn’t know whether I’d get on stage again, whether I even wanted to be an artist at all.” He then thanked the fans for sticking by him and celebrated the amount of tickets that continued to sell after the fallout from Macklemore’s removal.

For many of his detractors, Ed Sheeran’s emotional speeches may be too little too late, but as a gesture Sheeran, Robert Kraft and Macklemore have all reportedly made large donations to Palestinian charities, with Macklemore donating his full takings from the two nights of the tour he performed on. The Loop Tour continues with two nights at the Gillette Stadium on September 25 and 26 – check out Ed Sheeran’s setlist from the Lincoln Financial Field below:

1. Castle on the Hill
2. Shivers
3. The A Team
4. Sapphire
5. Don’t
6. Eyes Closed
7. I’m a Mess
8. Take It Back / Superstition / Ain’t No Sunshine
9. Lego House
10. Supermarket Flowers
11. Tenerife Sea
12. Give Me Love
(with backing band)
13. Galway Girl
14. Nancy Mulligan
15. I Don’t Care
16. Old Phone
17. Camera
18. Celestial
19. Photograph
20. Eastside / 2002 / Cold Water / Little Things / Love Yourself
21. Thinking Out Loud
22. Perfect
23. I See Fire
24. Blood Stream
25. Afterglow
(Encore)
26. You Need Me, I Don’t Need You
27. Shape of Yourself
28. Azizam
29. Bad Habits

In a statement released via the Band’s Instagram, they announced their plans to counteract what is in their words a “genocidal state in Israel.” this includes removing their music from Spotify and all other streaming services in the region.

The Band said the following:

“We’d appeal to all musicians to transfer their sadness, anger and artistic contributions into a coherent, reasonable & vital action to end the unspeakable hell being visited upon the Palestinians hour after hour.”

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“In 1991 the scourge of apartheid violence fell from South Africa, aided from a distance by public boycotts, protests, & the withdrawal of work by artists, musicians and actors. Complicity with that state was considered unacceptable. In 2025 the same now applies to the genocidal state of Israel. ”

‘No Music For Genocide’ say their movement, which they call a ‘cultural boycott of Israel, is not only for renowned artists like Massive Attack, but for those at every level of the industry:

“While big earners and major label artists also have a critical role to play in this fight, the goals of No Music For Genocide stretch beyond raw financial impact. Each of us can collectively push our different scenes, communities, and cultures toward a ‘new normal’ in which pro-Palestine efforts are common sense.”

“This initiative is borderless and open to all artists and labels who want to boycott. We hope it leads to additional efforts against the music industry’s complicity.”

There have been instances of artists removing material from Spotify in weeks gone, due largely to the business ventures of CEO Daniel Ek. A 693 million dollar investment in Helsing, a defence company located in Europe, has sparked mass controversy.

Helsing is a company that uses AI to analyse weaponry, and even develops military drones itself. Its involvement in the Ukraine-Russia conflict, alongside the war in Gaza have caused many artists to pull their music from Spotify, particularly in conflict regions.

The Swedish activist was sporting the shirt in a new video released on her social medias, where she was raising awareness for the ‘Freedom Flotilla’ trip. 

Thunberg and 11 other campaigners are currently sailing towards Gaza in an attempt to “break Israel’s siege” and provide humanitarian aid.

“We are watching a systematic starvation of 2 million people. A live-streamed genocide and the world’s silence is deadly. That is why we have to keep trying everything we can, even if the odds are against us.”

Zeteo contributor @GretaThunberg shares moments from the Madleen. pic.twitter.com/uaSCzf8Alt

— Zeteo (@zeteo_news) May 31, 2025

As you can see in the above video, Thunberg was wearing a football shirt released at the end of 2024 to raise funds for Medical Aid For Palestinians (MAP). MAP is a British charity that offers medical services in the West Bank, Gaza and Lebanon, whilst advocating for Palestinians’ rights to health and dignity.

Fontaines DC teamed up with Dublin’s Bohemians FC for the design, which features a Palestinian flag along with the words ‘Free Palestine’ in Irish (Saoirse don Phalaistin).

Thunberg explained the efforts of the ‘Freedom Flotilla’ team, saying in the video: “We will attempt to again sail towards Gaza and try to break the siege and open up a humanitarian corridor by delivering aid like food and medical supplies.

“The last time we attempted this, about a month ago, the boat, Conscience, that we were about to board got bombed twice, and all evidence suggests that it was Israel who did it. So now we are here in Catania, outside of Sicily, to try and continue our mission to try again.”

The activist also made sure to emphasise the importance of “standing in solidarity with the people of Palestine”, saying: “We are watching a systematic starvation of two million people. A live-streamed genocide and the world’s silence is deadly.

“Keep your eyes on deck. Continue flooding the streets, organise boycotts and do everything in your power to stand for Palestine.” 

Now on Sale: Our 2025 third (alternative) kit, a partnership with @fontainesdublin, designed by Carlos alongside club designers and produce in Dublin by @ONeills1918 . Shirt sales will also raise significant funds for @MedicalAidPal, who were also a beneficiary of our… pic.twitter.com/M7ZY5L0zNT — Bohemian Football Club (@bfcdublin) December 5, 2024

Fontaines guitarist, Carlos O’Connell, spoke of the importance of the shirt which Thunberg was spotted in, saying at the time of release: “There’s few institutions in this world who stand unyielding against oppression. Bohemians FC is one of them and being a small part of this club has been an honour for us for a few years now. We will always stand with them and their values.”

The Bohemians FC shirt does not mark the only time that Fontaines have attempted to raise money for disadvantaged groups. Last summer, the band donated their $2,000 prize from a music quiz to ‘Doctors Without Borders’, as they also collaborated with Bohemians FC for a shirt in 2021 in support of a homelessness charity.

Frontman Grian Chatten explained why the group feel the need to speak out on certain issues, telling NME: “It becomes incredibly tiring and disenfranchising, not just as a musician but as a young person, to be talking about and raising awareness.

“At some point, you’ve got to do something that feels a bit more tangible, you know? It really is the responsibilty of the masses, of artists, and anyone with a voice – which is most people nowadays – to do something, say something. Which side are you on?”

You can keep up with Greta Thunberg and the ‘Freedom Flotilla’ campaign on all her social medias, or even show support yourself by purchasing the Fontaines DC x Bohemians FC shirt here.

Kneecap posted on their Instagram that their cancellation is in direct correlation to the Israel-Gaza conflict, as they are “in solidarity with the people of Palestine.” For this reason, according to BBC,  they cannot perform “in good conscience”. Despite the financial sacrifice it is incomparable to the “unimaginable suffering” occurring in Gaza.

The Northern Ireland trio answer to their stage names: Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí. They are a fresh and politically aware band who use their platform to voice their support for republicanism through their lyrics, in which they sing in both English and Irish. They first released their unique sound in 2017, with a song titled ‘C.E.A.R.T.A,” which translates to “Rights” in Irish. This first song was inspired by the time when Móglaí Bap was spray-painting and wrote “Cearta” on a bustop the day before the Irish Language Act march in Belfast. He managed to escape an arrest, whilst the friend he was spray painting with was caught, and refused to speak English in his cell without a translator. This story inspired their first song, which snowballed into further ambitions to continue developing their sound after their popularity spiked. They clearly had a strong intent to rally for human rights by making it the title of their first song, and it is also clear through another single titled “Get Your Brits Out.” Their first song was banned from Irish radio ‘RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta’ (RnaG) for drug references and swearing. Their fans were inspired by their bold defiance and petitioned 700 signatures to get the song back on the radio. Kneecap defended themselves also, and said it’s “a satirical take on life for young people, particularly in west Belfast”, according to the Belfast Telegraph. 

The group are not alone in their protest, as other artists involved in the festival’s line-up have pulled out. These acts include Brighton’s ‘Lambrini Girls,’ who announced to BBC on Saturday March 9th, that their boycott is a way to keep their “moral integrity intact.“ Similarly, other acts silently protesting include Sprints, Scowl, Gel, and Squirrel Flower. ‘Okay Shalom’ shared on Instagram that this sacrifice “cost a dream,” but regardless, refuses to go along with something that is “fundamentally wrong.” All of the acts pulling out of the event have one thing in common, and that is that their moral stances overrule anything else, and this decision to pull out required no hesitation.

ᴏɴᴇ ʟᴀꜱᴛ ᴋɪꜱꜱ, ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴋɪꜱꜱ ꜰᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡʜᴏʟᴇ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ.

ᴡᴇᴍʙʟᴇʏ, ʏᴏᴜ ɢᴀᴠᴇ ᴜꜱ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴀɴᴅ ᴡᴇ ꜰᴇʟᴛ ɪᴛ. ᴛʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ꜰᴏʀ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴘᴀꜱꜱɪᴏɴ, ᴇɴᴇʀɢʏ, ᴀɴᴅ ꜱᴡᴇᴀᴛ. pic.twitter.com/pP8rE75a0Q

— ENTER SHIKARI (@ENTERSHIKARI) February 18, 2024

The St Albans based band started their captivating speech by stating: “We cannot just enjoy this moment without acknowledging the fact that there are children being blown to pieces by a government and a country that has been completely lost in nationalistic and religious fervour.”

Continuing to express his support of Palestine, Reynolds said: “with the activists and actionists up and down the country who have been blocking and targeting the Israeli weapons manufacturing factories. Our country is very complicit in this atrocity, and supports those who are targeting the investment banks that are effectively bankrolling genocide. We have been yelling ‘Free Gaza’, ‘Free Palestine’ for 15 years. I just hope to God that there is still a Gaza and a Palestine left when this fucking nightmare ends. So let us be grateful for tonight, we have safety. We have community, we have love, we have human connection. Let us treasure this feeling that we all have tonight.”

The current death toll of Palestinians in Gaza stands at 28,775, with around 1,410 Israelis killed and around 100 Israeli hostages still remaining in Hamas captivity after the October 7 attacks. Israel is currently being urged by many Palestinian supporters not to send ground forces into Rafah on the Egyptian border, where many of the strip’s citizens are now living after areas closer to their homes became engulfed by fighting. Around 1.5million people are living in Rafah, among fears that there are few to no other places for Palestinians to seek refuge. The BBC reported “tens of thousands” gathered in London yesterday for pro-Palestine rallies.

This is not the first time the British rockers have spoken out about the horrors of war and their distaste for modern day worldwide conflicts. Their 2012 song Stalemate depicts this, with lyrics such as “Money is made when bombs are dropping in Afghanistan, and when phosphorous falls in Palestine.” The four-piece also signed an open letter for ceasefire in November of last year, alongside other artists such as Architects and The Last Dinner Party.

The conflict between Israel and Gaza has been ongoing for decades, however the latest escalation occurred recently on October 7th, when Hamas, an Islamic Resistance Movement governing the Gaza strip of the Palestinian territories, launched an unprecedented attack on Israel killing 1,400 people and taking more than 200 hostages. Israel retaliated by launching air strikes, and as it stands, the United Nations have reported 4,200 deaths in Gaza over the last 10 days.

The MTV EMAs, which were set to be held in Paris on November 5th, have now been cancelled “out of an abundance of caution”, according to a BBC statement from the event’s organisers Paramount.

Paramount describes the annual event as “an annual celebration of global music”, but said as “events in Israel and Gaza continue to unfold, this does not feel like a moment for a global celebration. With thousands of lives already lost, it is a moment of mourning”.

In a social media post from Paramount, the event organisers issued a declaration saying “Given the volatility of world events, we have decided not to move forward with the 2023 MTV EMAs out of an abundance of caution for the thousands of employees, crew members, artists, fans, and partners who travel from all corners of the world to bring the show to life.”

Given the volatility of world events, we have decided not to move forward with the 2023 MTV EMAs out of an abundance of caution for the thousands of employees, crew members, artists, fans, and partners who travel from all corners of the world to bring the show to life.

— MTV EMA (@mtvema) October 19, 2023

MTV announced the list of performers for the awards show previously this week. Acts on the line up include the likes of Anne Marie, David Guetta and Thirty Seconds To Mars, all of which are also 2023 MTV EMA nominees. You can view the full list of performers and nominees here. The EMAs were set to broadcast on MTV in more than 150 countries, as well as stream on Pluto TV and Paramount+.

Paramount have announced that voting for the awards show will continue, and the event will be rescheduled to November 2024 with all the original performers.

Voting is continuing and the winning artists will receive their MTV EMA Awards.

We look forward to hosting the MTV EMAs again in November of 2024.

— MTV EMA (@mtvema) October 19, 2023