Ed Sheeran Adds Isaac Slade and Brooks Rosser as Opening Acts Following Macklemore Controversy

Ed Sheeran has enlisted Isaac Slade, the former lead singer of The Fray, and "American Idol" contestant Brooks Rosser to serve as opening acts for the remaining dates of his Loop Tour.

Slade confirmed via Instagram that he would be joining Sheeran for the rest of the US shows, having already performed at the Atlanta stop. Rosser, a contestant on "American Idol" Season 24, announced his involvement for the Indianapolis show. He expressed his excitement and gratitude for the opportunity to open for Sheeran.

These new additions come after Sheeran's original opening acts—Finneas, Aaron Rowe, Lukas Graham, and the band Beoga—withdrew from the tour. Their departure was in solidarity with rapper Macklemore.

Macklemore had been removed from the tour following his performance of "Free Palestine" and his song "Hind's Hall" at two shows in New Jersey. Reports indicated that Jewish NFL owner Robert Kraft and other venues threatened to cancel shows if Macklemore continued to perform.

Macklemore stated that he and Sheeran had a "painful disagreement" over the situation, and that Sheeran was presented with an ultimatum by stadium owners. Sheeran later apologized on stage, acknowledging that he had made mistakes and was sorry for how the situation unfolded. He also implemented heightened security measures at subsequent concerts, citing concerns about potential disruptions.

The US leg of Sheeran's Loop Tour is scheduled to conclude on November 7 in Tampa, Florida, before heading to Latin America. Macklemore has announced his own "Free Palestine Tour" with special guests.