Ed Sheeran's tour in 'damage control mode' after Macklemore backlash

The snowballing controversy over pro-Palestinian rapper Macklemore being dropped as a support act for Ed Sheeran has plunged the tour into crisis and left concert-goers in the middle of the fraught Israel-Gaza debate.

Fans who spoke to the BBC - including those who have tickets to see Sheeran's next show - have been split since Macklemore was dropped from the Loop Tour this week after his "free Palestine" protest on stage.

All of Sheeran's opening acts have since quit in solidarity.

"I'm still torn," Damien Given told the BBC on whether he would attend Sheeran's show on Saturday, calling the artist's response disingenuous. Another fan called it a "no-win situation".

Since the controversy blew up earlier this week, ticket prices, external for his remaining shows in the US, Mexico and South America have dropped, as calls for boycotts spread.

Sheeran has responded, saying he's been "appalled by the conflict between Israel and Palestine", but would not be drawn into a political debate.

He argued that "those who come to my shows do not expect a political forum" and stressed he was not responsible for Macklemore being removed from the tour.

Some are upset Sheeran's tour is continuing without all the listed acts and they want refunds. It's no longer the show they paid for, they said.

Given, who is from Northern Ireland, said he's felt in two minds over the tickets he has on Saturday to see the show in Philadelphia.

It will mark Sheeran's first time back on stage since the controversy spiralled.

Given said he's felt that Macklemore was treated "very, very wrong" and thought Sheeran was not being transparent with fans.

"[Sheeran] said he was in support of Ukraine when the Ukraine-Russia war started," said Given.

"You can't just say now suddenly, 'I'm not political.'"

Damien Given and his wife, Kellie, danced to one of Sheeran's songs at their wedding

But he explained the poignant connection he's felt to Sheeran's music that has drawn him to Saturday's show.

The singer's hit Thinking Out Loud was the first dance at Given's wedding.

"When she danced," Given, 52, said, recalling the moment with his bride, "the first words of the song were, 'When your legs don't work like they used to before.'"

His wife, Kellie, had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and could barely walk. She died four years later, in 2024.

Given said if it wasn't for "that connection, I would absolutely" not be attending, but "I'm probably leaning towards going".

Fellow fan Patti Ann has felt less conflicted over the backlash and instead said Sheeran was in a "no-win situation".

"I back [Sheeran] 100% for his decision," she said. "I feel like he has an obligation and a contract with his venues, and sometimes, financially, you can't get out of those types of things."

Ann, who has been a Sheeran fan for years, said she thinks a concert venue is not the place for politics.

Believe what you want, she said, "just don't press it on me".

She still plans to attend his show in Atlanta, Georgia, in October.

Heather Park is worried some shows might be cancelled

Matt Jaye, a Jewish-American from Florida, said he was outraged watching Macklemore's comments on a New Jersey stage earlier this month in support of Palestine.

He contacted Ticketmaster and asked for a refund for tickets he has to Sheeran's November show in Tampa, Florida.

His request was denied, which he said was "pretty upsetting".

His mood changed, though, after Macklemore was removed from Sheeran's line-up.

"I'm not in favour of a one-sided presentation of things from an artist," Jaye, 48, said. "That's not why I'm going to the concert."

Jaye said he believed Sheeran bore some culpability for Macklemore's pro-Palestinian protest.

"If [Sheeran's] saying that he's apolitical, I would expect him to maintain those same standards for the artists that he's bringing on," he said.

"I don't think he handled it in the best way possible."

He added that he would have liked Sheeran to issue an apology to the Jewish community for making part of his audience "very uncomfortable".

Some fans are worried what will become of the tour by the time Sheeran is set to play in their city.

Heather Park, who has tickets this weekend, said she's worried some shows might be cancelled.

"My main thing was to go see Ed Sheeran," she said. "Macklemore was just a bonus."

While Park, 49, believes Macklemore's ouster was unfair and a violation of free speech, she said she's mostly unbothered by the drama and prefers to separate the artist from the art.

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