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CultureQuiet 4d · day 4

Eagles silent on role pressuring Macklemore off Sheeran tour

Philadelphia's NFL team reportedly joined other owners in blocking the rapper over Palestine comments, but has offered no public explanation.

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What to know

  • Ed Sheeran performed solo at Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field on Sept. 20 after Macklemore was removed from his stadium tour for pro-Palestine remarks, and publicly condemned venue content pre-approval.
  • New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft led the effort to block Macklemore, calling his remarks 'hate speech,' and reportedly pressured other NFL owners to support the move.
  • The Wall Street Journal reported that Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie joined a bloc of owners—including Atlanta's Arthur Blank and Carolina's David Tepper—in supporting Macklemore's cancellation.
  • The Eagles have remained publicly silent about their reported role in the controversy, drawing criticism that the decision runs counter to Philadelphia's historical commitment to free expression.

“Sheeran — whatever else you think about how he handled this mess — was 100% right when he declared this 'never should happen in the free world.'”

Will Bunch, Philadelphia Inquirer columnist · Philadelphia Inquirer ↗ · Sep 19

Ed SheeranEd Sheeran PerformerMacklemore Hip-hop artistRobert KraftRobert Kraft New England Patriots ownerJeffrey LurieJeffrey Lurie Philadelphia Eagles ownerArthur BlankArthur Blank Atlanta Falcons ownerDavid TepperDavid Tepper Carolina Panthers owner

Eagles silent on role pressuring Macklemore off Sheeran tour
inquirer.com

How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage articlesposts

Peak 1 piece in one hour at Sep 20, 10 AM; 3 pieces over 4 days (2 articles · 1 post) Sep 20, 10 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Google News 1Sep 20, 11 AM — quietSep 20, 12 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Sep 20, 1 PM — quietSep 20, 2 PM — quietSep 20, 3 PM — quietSep 20, 4 PM — quietSep 20, 5 PM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Sep 20, 6 PM — quietSep 20, 7 PM — quietSep 20, 8 PM — quietSep 20, 9 PM — quietSep 20, 10 PM — quietSep 20, 11 PM — quietSep 21, 12 AM — quietSep 21, 1 AM — quietSep 21, 2 AM — quietSep 21, 3 AM — quietSep 21, 4 AM — quietSep 21, 5 AM — quietSep 21, 6 AM — quietSep 21, 7 AM — quietSep 21, 8 AM — quietSep 21, 9 AM — quietSep 21, 10 AM — quietSep 21, 11 AM — quietSep 21, 12 PM — quietSep 21, 1 PM — quietSep 21, 2 PM — quietSep 21, 3 PM — quietSep 21, 4 PM — quietSep 21, 5 PM — quietSep 21, 6 PM — quietSep 21, 7 PM — quietSep 21, 8 PM — quietSep 21, 9 PM — quietSep 21, 10 PM — quietSep 21, 11 PM — quietSep 22, 12 AM — quietSep 22, 1 AM — quietSep 22, 2 AM — quietSep 22, 3 AM — quietSep 22, 4 AM — quietSep 22, 5 AM — quietSep 22, 6 AM — quietSep 22, 7 AM — quietSep 22, 8 AM — quietSep 22, 9 AM — quietSep 22, 10 AM — quietSep 22, 11 AM — quietSep 22, 12 PM — quietSep 22, 1 PM — quietSep 22, 2 PM — quietSep 22, 3 PM — quietSep 22, 4 PM — quietSep 22, 5 PM — quietSep 22, 6 PM — quietSep 22, 7 PM — quietSep 22, 8 PM — quietSep 22, 9 PM — quietSep 22, 10 PM — quietSep 22, 11 PM — quietYesterday, 12 AM — quietYesterday, 1 AM — quietYesterday, 2 AM — quietYesterday, 3 AM — quietYesterday, 4 AM — quietYesterday, 5 AM — quietYesterday, 6 AM — quietYesterday, 7 AM — quietYesterday, 8 AM — quietYesterday, 9 AM — quietYesterday, 10 AM — quietYesterday, 11 AM — quietYesterday, 12 PM — quietYesterday, 1 PM — quietYesterday, 2 PM — quietYesterday, 3 PM — quietYesterday, 4 PM — quietYesterday, 5 PM — quietYesterday, 6 PM — quietYesterday, 7 PM — quietYesterday, 8 PM — quietYesterday, 9 PM — quietYesterday, 10 PM — quietYesterday, 11 PM — quietToday, 12 AM — quietToday, 1 AM — quietToday, 2 AM — quietToday, 3 AM — quietToday, 4 AM — quietToday, 5 AM — quietToday, 6 AM — quiet 1
Sep 21Sep 22yesterdaynow · 7:48 AM ET
  1. 1

    Bunch criticizes Eagles' silence on their reported role

    Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Will Bunch publishes opinion piece noting that the Eagles and owner Jeffrey Lurie's reported involvement in pressuring Macklemore's removal is troubling both for the action itself and for their refusal to explain it—especially in Philadelphia, a historic center for free expression.

    “I am deeply worried about the idea that venues should pre-approve content for performers. This happens in so many places around the world, but it should never happen in the free world.”
    — Ed Sheeran, Performer · source
    1. 2 outlets Eagles’ silence on their role in the Macklemore mess has become deafening | Opinion

      first by Inquirer.com, 3d ago · also Philadelphia Inquirer

      1 more headline
  2. background

    Sheeran's band and opening acts quit in protest — Sheeran's backing band and all of his opening acts quit in protest over Macklemore's ouster, and online ticket prices tumbled.

  3. background

    Sheeran performs solo, condemns venue content pre-approval — Ed Sheeran performed at Lincoln Financial Field with only his guitar after Macklemore's removal. Sheeran condemned both Hamas's Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel and Israel's response in Gaza as "catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate", and stated that venues should never pre-approve performer content.

  4. background

    Wall Street Journal reports Eagles owner Lurie in owners' bloc — The Wall Street Journal and other outlets identified Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie as part of a group of NFL owners—also including Arthur Blank of the Atlanta Falcons and David Tepper of the Carolina Panthers—who agreed to support Macklemore's cancellation.

  5. background

    Kraft rallies NFL owners to pressure Sheeran's tour operator — Kraft reportedly rallied other NFL stadium operators to lean on Sheeran's tour operator to remove Macklemore from the stadium tour, according to reports.

  6. background

    Robert Kraft calls Macklemore's comments 'hate speech' — New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft called Macklemore's pro-Palestine remarks 'hate speech' and moved to block him from performing at the Patriots' Gillette Stadium.

  7. background

    Macklemore performs pro-Palestine remarks at MetLife Stadium — Macklemore donned a keffiyeh, shouted "Free Palestine!", and performed his song "Hind's Hall" about pro-Palestinian campus protesters at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium.