United News of Bangladesh

Ed Sheeran is scheduled to resume his tour Saturday, potentially performing alone, after all of his supporting acts withdrew following the removal of opening act Macklemore over pro-Palestinian remarks made during a concert. It remains unclear how Sheeran will structure his performance at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field after the departure of the opening acts and supporting musicians. Sheeran has performed much of his Loop Tour solo, although Irish folk band Beoga had joined him for several songs at each stop. Macklemore was initially scheduled as Sheeran’s US opening act but was replaced by Danish band Lukas Graham and Irish singer Aaron Rowe. Both later withdrew. Finneas, Billie Eilish’s brother and musical collaborator, was also scheduled to join Sheeran’s South American shows later this year but pulled out earlier this week. Sheeran has made no public statement since the artists withdrew. Tickets for Saturday’s concert were still available Friday, while his website listed no replacement acts. A coalition of pro-Palestinian organizations plans to protest outside the venue Saturday afternoon. The controversy began after Macklemore shouted “Free Palestine” during a Sept. 5 concert in New Jersey. Sheeran said he was not involved in the decision to remove Macklemore, which came after pressure from New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, whose company owns a stadium where Sheeran was scheduled to perform Friday. Within hours of Sheeran’s statement Tuesday, his supporting acts announced their withdrawals. Macklemore said Wednesday that he would donate $1 million to Palestinian relief efforts and urged Kraft to match the contribution. A spokesperson for Kraft said the billionaire and Sheeran had each agreed to donate $2 million, but did not say where the money would go. Sheeran’s representatives have not responded to several requests for comment. Pollstar reported in May that Sheeran’s Loop Tour was the world’s highest-grossing tour, averaging more than $7 million in box office revenue per city. Through the end of 2025, Sheeran ranked No. 3 among the highest-earning concert acts since 2021. Sheeran has said the tour promoter was ultimately responsible for dropping Macklemore. In his Tuesday statement, the Grammy-winning singer said he did not want to become involved in debate over the Gaza war, saying fans attend his concerts to hear music rather than discuss such issues. He also said he had spent much of the week speaking with venues in an effort to “build a bridge” before Macklemore was removed. Sheeran said he would never knowingly disappoint his fans or abandon members of his touring crew and others whose livelihoods depend on the tour. Although promoters and venues have significant influence over concert tours, experts say an artist of Sheeran’s stature generally has considerable control over decisions involving his shows.

Ed Sheeran's North and South American tour faced major disruption Tuesday after four supporting acts withdrew in solidarity with rapper Macklemore, who was removed from the tour following pro-Palestinian comments he made onstage. Irish acts Aaron Rowe and Beoga, Danish band Lukas Graham and Finneas announced on Instagram that they were leaving the tour, shortly after Sheeran posted about Macklemore's removal and said the decision was made by the tour's promoters. Rowe and Lukas Graham were due to replace Macklemore on Sheeran's remaining US dates. Beoga had been joining Sheeran for several songs, including some they co-wrote, during the middle of his sets. Finneas, the brother and musical collaborator of Billie Eilish, was scheduled to join Sheeran's South American tour later this year. “Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed,” Finneas wrote on Instagram. “I have decided to withdraw from my upcoming tour dates with Ed Sheeran. I stand with Palestine and its people.” Pressure grows on SheeranThe withdrawals have increased pressure on Sheeran, who has generally avoided taking a public political position on the Gaza conflict. He has said fans attend his concerts for music rather than political discussions. Rowe and Beoga referred to Ireland's history in explaining their decisions. “We are Irish people who understand colonialism,” Beoga said. “As founding members of the Irish Artists for Palestine movement, we are committed activists for justice and will continue to be.” Rowe described Sheeran as a friend who had changed his life but said his Irish background made it difficult for him to remain silent. “As Irish people we know all too well about genocide, forced famine and violent occupation,” he said, adding that he could not “stand by and allow billionaires to use their position of power to silence the rightful voices of those who speak up.” Lukas Graham, known for hits including “Mama Said” and “7 Years,” thanked Sheeran and described its decision as difficult. “Money doesn't give you the right to own the conversation. Nobody's bank balance should decide who gets to speak or which suffering we're allowed to acknowledge,” the band said in an Instagram post, apparently referring to billionaire Robert Kraft's reported role in Macklemore's removal. Emails seeking comment were sent to Sheeran and the tour's promoter, Messina Touring Group. Macklemore's removal sparks disputeSheeran addressed Macklemore's removal after the rapper made pro-Palestinian comments during their tour. Sheeran said the decision was made solely by the promoters and that he did not want to become involved in a public debate over the Gaza war. “Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter's decision, it was not mine,” Sheeran wrote on Instagram Tuesday. “I would never let down the fans who had made plans, nor would I abandon the touring crew and the other support acts and musicians who rely on me for work and to make a living.” His statement came a day after Macklemore said he had been removed from the Loop Tour after saying “Free Palestine!” during a Sept. 5 concert at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium while introducing his protest song “Hind's Hall.” “To all of my Jewish brothers and sisters, criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide, it in no way is criticism of you,” Macklemore said during the concert. Macklemore said Monday that several US venues had told the promoter they would not allow him to perform as Sheeran's opening act following efforts by Kraft, owner of the NFL's New England Patriots. Kraft's Kraft Group also owns Gillette Stadium, the Patriots' home. In a statement Monday, Kraft said Macklemore was removed because of his recent comments and what Kraft described as a wider history of “antisemitic rhetoric and imagery” that he said had been offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community. Kraft's representatives did not immediately respond Tuesday to questions about the other artists' decisions to leave the tour. Sheeran says he is “not complicit”A growing number of organizations and experts have said Israel's wartime actions in Gaza amount to genocide, an allegation that Israel strongly rejects. Macklemore was scheduled to perform at eight of the 10 remaining shows on Sheeran's stadium tour, which is due to resume Saturday in Philadelphia. The upcoming stops include Gillette Stadium, Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium and Indianapolis' Lucas Oil Stadium. Sheeran said he had spoken extensively with venues throughout the week in an effort to find a solution, but the venues and promoter ultimately stood by their decision. He said he tries to use his music to bring together people from different backgrounds and cultures. While he has personal views about the “devastating conflict,” he said he chooses not to discuss them publicly because concertgoers do not expect his shows to become political forums. “I am not complicit,” Sheeran wrote. “I respect Macklemore's strength of purpose to stand up and shout for what he believes,” he added. “However, there is room for multiple approaches to the same end: peace.” Sheeran said he prefers to use his public platform as “a place of safety and sanctuary” and to support diplomacy and keep conversations open.

Ed Sheeran has released his latest single, Azizam, a vibrant and danceable track influenced by Persian music, marking the first release from his forthcoming eighth studio album, Play. Dropped on Thursday, the song was produced by Ilyah Salmanzadeh, known for his work with artists like Ariana Grande, Charli XCX and Tate McRae. Sheeran shared on Instagram that the idea for the song stemmed from Salmanzadeh’s suggestion to draw inspiration from his Persian heritage. The title, Azizam, translates to “my dear” in Persian. Alongside the single, Sheeran released a “Pink Heart” video, featuring footage shot across the United States during recent promotional events. He hinted at an upcoming “official” music video but has yet to reveal its release date, reports The Hollywood Reporter. During an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in March, the four-time Grammy winner revealed the title of his upcoming album, Play, and shared that it forms part of a 10-album concept he envisioned at the age of 18. Tom Cruise opens CinemaCon speech with moment of silence for Val Kilmer This series includes Plus, Multiply, Divide, Subtract, Equals, followed by Play, Pause, Rewind, Fast Forward and Stop, inspired by Quentin Tarantino’s plan to create 10 films before retiring. While an official release date for Play is still under wraps, Sheeran’s last album, Autumn Variations, was released in 2023 and reached No. 4 on the Billboard 200 chart. In the meantime, Sheeran has remained active on his global Mathematics Tour, which began in Dublin in April 2022 and is scheduled to wrap up in Düsseldorf this September.