Watch: Will Ed Sheeran cancel his tour as support acts quit?

September 16, 2026

Ed Sheeran's US tour faces significant disruption after his entire backing band and all support acts withdrew from the performance schedule. The exodus began when tour promoters removed rapper Macklemore from the lineup following his pro-Palestinian statements made during a stage performance. Sheeran has publicly clarified that the decision to drop Macklemore was made by his tour promoter rather than by himself personally.

Who is affected

Ed Sheeran (artist whose tour is impacted)
Macklemore (rapper removed from the tour)
Ed Sheeran's backing band (who pulled out)
All support acts on the tour (who withdrew)
The tour promoter (who made the removal decision)
Ticket holders and fans expecting to attend the US tour dates

What action is being taken

Ed Sheeran's backing band is pulling out of the US tour
All support acts are withdrawing from the tour
The tour promoter has dropped Macklemore from the lineup

Why it matters

This situation highlights the intersection of politics and entertainment, demonstrating how performers' political statements can trigger significant consequences for major concert tours. The mass withdrawal of musicians creates uncertainty around a major artist's ability to fulfill tour commitments and raises questions about artistic freedom, contractual obligations, and solidarity among performers in response to controversial decisions.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC