MACKLEMORE’S replacement on Ed Sheeran’s under-fire tour has been revealed and the stand-in singer has spoken out on Gaza live on-stage.
Brit singer Ed‘s Loop series of US gigs descended into chaos when his support act and pal Macklemore was dropped by promoters over his pro-Palestine stance.
Billionaire businessman Robert Kraft banned the American musician, real name Benjamin Haggerty, from his stadium after he made a speech on stage in support of Palestinians amid the ongoing conflict with Israel.
At the time, Robert deemed his words “hate speech” and the move sparked a mass exodus of support acts who all quit 35-year-old Ed’s tour in solidarity with the Thrift Shop hitmaker.
Ed continued to perform alone, but he has now been joined by surprise guest, The Fray’s Isaac Slade.
The rock band’s former frontman, 45, opened proceedings at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, with his band’s hits, which included How to Save a Life and You Found Me.
Despite politics taking precedence over performances during the Loop tour, Isaac had his say.
He told fans: “What’s happening over there [in Gaza] is wrong, but if we’re going to get through it, we’re going to need people to step into that middle place, that common ground.
“That bonfire in the middle of the field that sees both sides, that understands that peace is not a lack of conflict. Peace is not a blank canvas that we need to guard and be polite.”
“[Peace] holds enough beauty, enough tragedy, enough sorrow, enough joy and life if we learn how to integrate it and hold each other in balance.
“We will find a way through this together”.
It isn’t the first time that Isaac, who quit The Fray in 2022, has appeared on the tour.
He also took to the stage in Toronto in August.
Following the Macklemore controversy, which saw Billie Eilish‘s brother Finneas, Irish acts Aaron Rowe and Beoga, and Danish pop star Lukas Graham withdraw in solidarity, Ed spoke out.
Ed insisted in a statement that he would not be drawn on voicing his own views on the Israel/Gaza conflict publicly but is committed to ensuring his gigs are a place of “safety and sanctuary” for people from all ethnicities, faiths and backgrounds.
He also made it clear that he was not personally responsible for Macklemore’s departure and had been trying to find a solution with promoters and billionaire Robert, who owns Massachusetts‘ Gillette Stadium.
New England Patriots owner Robert had accused Macklemore of having a “broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery that we believe has been deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community”.
It was Macklemore declaring “Free Palestine” ahead of his protest song Free Hind’s Hall, written about pro-Palestinian protesters at Columbia University, which sparked the controversy.
In his own statement, Macklemore insisted his stance was a “criticism of apartheid and genocide” and not of the Jewish people.
Ed wrote on social media: “Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter’s decision, it was not mine.
“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.”
He added that fans at his shows did not want a “political forum” and that despite his apolitical stance he is “not complicit”.
Ed and Macklemore’s friendship goes back 13 years and the latter said he hoped it would continue despite them having had “difficult conversations”.
The other acts also highlighted their friendships with Ed and their gratitude for being given the opportunity to perform on such a high-profile tour, but said they could not continue with clear conscience knowing a fellow artist had been “silenced”.