Illustrators and Cartoonists Turn Ed Sheeran's Macklemore Ouster Into Online Protest Art
Following Ed Sheeran's decision to drop rapper Macklemore from his Loop Tour due to pro-Palestine comments, cartoonists and illustrators voiced their dissent on social media. Earlier this month, during his performance at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, Macklemore criticized Israel's actions in Gaza and paid tribute to five-year-old Palestinian Hind Rajab, who was killed by Israeli forces in 2024. Singer Pink shared a post accusing Macklemore of politicizing the concert. Macklemore suggested that Sheeran succumbed to pressure from billionaire Robert Kraft, while Sheeran maintained that the choice was not his own. In a show of support for Palestine and Macklemore, all remaining acts—Beoga, Finneas O'Connell, Lukas Graham, and Aaron Rowe—withdrew from the tour.
Key facts
- Ed Sheeran removed Macklemore from his Loop Tour after Macklemore made pro-Palestine comments
- Macklemore performed at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey earlier this month, protesting Israel's genocide in Gaza and honoring Hind Rajab, a five-year-old Palestinian girl killed by Israeli forces in 2024
- Chicago cartoonist Jesse Duquette posted an illustration titled "Ed Sheeran, 1933" and wrote, "Who knew his music would be the second worst thing about him"
- Singer Pink reposted an Instagram photo accusing Macklemore of turning "a mainstream event into a political nightmare against the Jewish state"
- Macklemore said Sheeran bent to billionaire Robert Kraft, whose company owns the Boston stadium where the tour will perform
- Sheeran said on Instagram that Macklemore's exit was not his decision but that of Kraft and the promoters
- Political cartoonist Benjamin Slyngstad depicted Sheeran serenading a missile with "Shape of You" (2017)
- Beoga, Finneas O'Connell, Lukas Graham, and Aaron Rowe all quit the Loop Tour in solidarity with Palestine and Macklemore
Entities
Artists
- Ed Sheeran
- Macklemore
- Jesse Duquette
- Pink
- Benjamin Netanyahu
- Benjamin Slyngstad
- @zeindee
- Hind Rajab
- Finneas O'Connell
- Aaron Rowe
- @mr_m0nch
- @mypenleaks
- @kazvaremadeit
- Aaron Pierre
- Finneas
- Billie Eilish
- Robert Kraft
- Ben Haggerty
- Lukas Graham
- Beoga
- Lukas Forchhammer
- Damien Given
- Patti Ann
- Gabriela Pomeroy
- Steven McIntosh
- Brandon Drenon
- Mark Savage
- Benjamin Haggerty
- Charlotte Church
Institutions
- MetLife Stadium
- Loop Tour
- Beoga
- Lukas Graham
- Hyperallergic
- Messina Touring Group
- Columbia University
- Kraft Group
- New England Patriots
- Gillette Stadium
- Hamas
- iHeartRadio
- Getty Images
- NFL
- Eurovisión
- Israeli American Council
- StopAntisemitism
- Classic Hits Radio
- Philly Palestine Coalition
- Shut Down D&Z
- BBC
- Goldencoast Rap Festival
Locations
- Chicago
- New Jersey
- Gaza
- Israel
- Boston
- Palestine
- United States
- Denmark
- Ireland
- New York
- West Bank
- Ukraine
- Russia
- Japan
- Stati Uniti
- Irlanda
- Israele
- Palestina
- Cisgiordania
- Danimarca
- Giappone
- Estados Unidos
- Nueva York
- Cisjordania
- Philadelphia
- England
- New Zealand
- Australia
- Caribbean
- Central America
- South America
- Arizona
- Toronto
- Canada
- Denver
- Seattle
- Minneapolis
- Los Angeles
- Atlanta
- Tampa
- Mexico
- Northern Ireland
- Lincoln Financial Field
- Dublin
- Paris
- France
- London
- United Kingdom
- Corcelles-les-Monts
- Dijon