The controversy erupted after Macklemore, who performed an opening set on Sheeran's tour, was dropped following his vocal support for Palestine. Macklemore later alleged that Kraft personally pressured venue owners to exclude him from future dates. On the "Weekend Update" segment, Magliano mocked the situation, describing the billionaire as a man "picking a coffin," while Young highlighted Kraft’s 2019 legal history regarding solicitation charges, which were eventually dropped by prosecutors.
Sheeran returned to the stage in Philadelphia on Sept. 19, facing both empty seats and protesters who criticized his handling of the situation. Addressing the crowd, the singer apologized for "making mistakes" while navigating the intense debate over free speech and his stance on the Gaza conflict. He described the Oct. 7 Hamas-led attacks as "horrific" and the devastation in Gaza as "unjustifiable," attempting to position his concerts as inclusive spaces for opposing views. Despite these efforts, protesters outside the venue continued to call for a stronger stance, with some attendees wearing "Make Palestine Free Again" hats.
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