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Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour has become an unexpected hotspot for memes and social media buzz, as recent lineup changes stir up drama online.
The controversy kicked off when Macklemore was dropped from the remaining North American dates following his pro-Palestinian remarks. Since then, several other performers-including Sheeran’s own backing band, Beoga-have announced they’re stepping away from the tour, many citing support for Palestine. As the roster continues to evolve, fans and online communities have responded with a flood of jokes, memes, and witty commentary.
Sheeran addressed the situation on Tuesday, clarifying that the decision to remove Macklemore came from the tour promoter. He emphasized his commitment to fans, the crew, and the other musicians relying on the tour for work. Yet, despite his stance, acts like Beoga, Aaron Rowe, Lukas Graham, and Finneas have since confirmed their withdrawals from various dates.
The internet wasted no time turning the drama into humor. On Threads, one user quipped, “BREAKING NEWS: the 1-877-Kars4Kids band has pulled out of the Ed Sheeran tour,” accompanied by a photo from the well-known commercial. Another joked that KidzBop had also declined to open.
Pop culture references flooded social media as well. A meme from the film Sinners featured Michael B.
Jordan asking a vampire if he was opening for Ed Sheeran, while a Goofy Movie still showed Powerline with the caption announcing his withdrawal from the tour. Twitter (now X) shared an image of Sheeran solo with his guitar, humorously captioned, “Ed Sheeran when the rest of the band quits the tour.”
Reddit users joined in, posting a scene from I Think You Should Leave alongside the statement, “I actually want to go to a Macklemore concert more than I want to go to an Ed Sheeran concert.” Even Game of Thrones fans chimed in, sharing an image of Sheeran’s cameo with a tongue-in-cheek caption about the show’s infamous “Red Wedding” and political rivalries, underscoring the divisive nature of the tour’s recent developments.
As the Loop Tour lineup continues to shift, it’s clear that the internet will be watching-and riffing-every step of the way.