Sheeran’s upcoming ‘Loop’ shows are currently lacking any opening acts after Macklemore was dropped from the tour over his impassioned “free Palestine” speech made while opening for Sheeran at New Jersey’s Gillette Stadium.
The speech prompted calls for Macklemore’s removal from figures like Pink and the Israeli American Council, and Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft later confirmed that he found Macklemore’s speech “deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community”, resulting in his dismissal.
Since then, all of Sheeran’s support acts and backing band have dropped out of the tour, with FINNEAS, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe and Beoga all making statements supporting Macklemore.
Williams has now shown solidarity with all the artists in the pre-show playlist ahead of her show last night (Wednesday September 16) at Forest Hills Stadium in New York, where she played for her ongoing solo tour, ‘The Hayley Williams Show’.
The playlist included Macklemore’s ‘Can’t Hold Us’, Lukas Graham’s ‘Mama Said’, Finneas’ ‘For Cryin’ Out Loud’, Rowe’s ‘The Lane’, Beoga’s ‘Aurora II’, and Macklemore’s ‘Thrift Shop’.
Williams had previously shared a satirical story in reference to Sheeran’s statement, which read: “Hey guys I’ve seen all the atrocities going on and I just want you to know I am keeping the conversation open by saying nothing.”
The post went on, “I am a role model (product) and it’s important that I don’t disappoint my young fans (investors and shareholders) by being political. My shows are something so much bigger than politics – they are commerce.”
Sheeran has spoken out about the situation, saying he was “not complicit” and that he was “appalled by the conflict between Israel and Palestine” and sees the “suffering and pain caused on both sides” as a “tragedy”.
Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters waded into the debate to call Sheeran a “little prick” while praising Macklemore for doing “the right thing”, and Massive Attack also spoke on the controversy: “’Neutrality’ in the face of the slaughter of more than 20,000 children can never be neutrality”.
Sheeran is yet to respond to his support acts pulling out and these comments.
