Ed Sheeran’s troubled Loop Tour has suffered another setback after an Irish radio station removed his music from its playlist. The Ed Sheeran’s Music Pulled From Radio Amid Macklemore Fallout first appeared on The Blast

Ed Sheeran’s troubled Loop Tour has suffered another setback after an Irish radio station removed his music from its playlist amid the growing controversy surrounding Macklemore’s departure. Classic Hits Radio said the decision followed complaints from listeners and the withdrawal of several artists who had been scheduled to support Sheeran during the remaining tour dates. The station’s move intensifies the pressure surrounding Sheeran, who has insisted that the decision to remove Macklemore was made by the tour’s promoter and not by him.

Irish Radio Station Removes Ed Sheeran’s Music

Classic Hits Radio has removed Sheeran’s music for the “foreseeable future,” according to The Telegraph. Dave Kelly, group program director at Bay Broadcasting, which operates the station, said the decision was made after careful consideration.

“Our decision to remove Ed Sheeran’s music from the Classic Hits Radio playlist has been carefully considered,” Kelly said. “As an independent Irish-owned radio station, we believe it is important to listen to our audience and to stand alongside Irish artists who have made what is undoubtedly a significant professional decision based on their own convictions.”

Kelly explained that the reaction from listeners and the decisions made by artists associated with the tour ultimately influenced the station. “In light of the strength of feeling expressed by our listeners, and the decisions taken by Irish artists involved in the tour, we believe removing Ed Sheeran’s music from our playlist is the appropriate decision for Classic Hits Radio at this time,” he added.

Macklemore Was Removed After Pro-Palestinian Comments

The controversy began after Macklemore delivered a pro-Palestinian message during a performance at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The rapper reportedly told people in Gaza and the West Bank that they had not been forgotten. Macklemore was subsequently removed from the Loop Tour after several upcoming venues reportedly objected to his continued involvement.

Following his departure, Aaron Rowe, Finneas, Lukas Graham and Beoga, Sheeran’s backing band, withdrew from the remaining dates and shared messages supporting Macklemore. The departures left Sheeran’s tour facing major changes, with 17 scheduled performances remaining across North and South America.

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Macklemore Donates His Tour Earnings

Macklemore announced that he would donate his $1 million in net earnings from the Loop Tour to six organizations supporting Palestinians. “With everything that has happened over the last 48 hours, I want to bring the conversation back to where it belongs: to the Palestinian people who are still being killed, still living under military occupation and still fighting for their freedom,” he wrote on Instagram.

“I will be donating the entire one million of my net earnings from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour to six organizations working directly to support the Palestinian people,” Macklemore added.

The rapper also publicly challenged Robert Kraft, the billionaire owner of the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium, to match his donation. Addressing Kraft, Macklemore wrote that “whatever we disagree about, perhaps we can agree on this, Palestinian lives are worth protecting, a Palestinian life is no less valuable than any other life on this Earth”.

Robert Kraft Responds To Macklemore’s Challenge

Kraft said Sheeran had already contacted him about making a humanitarian contribution before Macklemore issued his public challenge. “I have dedicated much of my life to building bridges between all people. I believe deeply that all lives are worth protecting,” Kraft wrote on Instagram.

“Earlier today, before Macklemore challenged me to match his donation, Ed called me and asked me to commit two million to match his donation to aid in the region to fight this humanitarian crisis,” he continued.

Kraft said Sheeran planned to contact additional venue owners in an effort to raise more money. “Ed now plans to reach out to other venue owners, and our goal is to continue to work together to build bridges,” he explained.

Kraft also defended his record of supporting programs involving Palestinians and Israelis. “In addition, I’d like the people who are speaking in support of the Palestinian people to know that for decades, I have supported efforts that create opportunity for Palestinians and have brought young Palestinians and Israelis together to build businesses, create jobs and forge relationships,” he added.

Kraft previously said the decision to block Macklemore from appearing at Gillette Stadium was not solely related to his advocacy for Palestinians. Instead, he cited a “broader history of anti-Semitic rhetoric and imagery that we believe has been deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community”.

Ed Sheeran Says He Did Not Remove Macklemore

Sheeran addressed the mounting backlash on social media, insisting that Macklemore’s departure was beyond his control. He said “upcoming tour dates had communicated that they would pull the shows if he was still supporting”.

Sheeran maintained that Macklemore’s removal was the promoter’s decision and denied personally ordering it. The 35-year-old singer insisted that he was “not complicit” and said he has his “personal views on this devastating conflict.”

Sheeran also said he was “appalled by the conflict between Israel and Palestine” and continued to respect Macklemore “as an artist.”

His next performance is scheduled for September 19 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. Graham and Rowe had been expected to open the show before withdrawing.

The Ed Sheeran’s Music Pulled From Radio Amid Macklemore Fallout first appeared on The Blast