Isaac Slade opens Ed Sheeran's Atlanta show after other support acts quit over Macklemore's removal
Ed Sheeran was joined by former The Fray frontman Isaac Slade as a surprise opener in Atlanta on 3 October, the first guest on the bill since several support acts left his Loop Tour over Macklemore's removal.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Ed Sheeran brought former The Fray frontman Isaac Slade on as a surprise opener at his Loop Tour show in Atlanta on 3 October. NewsweekN “Ed Sheeran brought former The Fray frontman Isaac Slade on as a surprise opener at his Atlanta Loop Tour show on October 3.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Daily MailR “Sheeran invited former The Fray frontman Isaac Slade to open for him.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Centre · 1Slade is the first guest performer to appear since several opening acts left the tour following the controversy over Macklemore's removal. NewsweekN “Slade is the first guest performer to appear after several opening acts left the tour following the controversy surrounding Macklemore's removal.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Right · 1According to the Daily Mail, Sheeran's official social media account announced a 'special guest' hours before the show at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and eyewitness accounts shared on social media said Slade, 45, played an abbreviated opening set. Daily MailR “According to numerous eyewitness accounts shared via social media, it was confirmed that Slade, 45, performed an abbreviated opening set on Saturday.”“Just hours prior to his show at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, his official social media account revealed a 'special guest' would be joining Sheeran onstage.” Read at Daily Mail ↗
Right · 1Slade had joined Sheeran in Toronto in late August for a duet of The Fray's 2005 hit How to Save a Life; in Atlanta he reportedly played that song again, plus You Found Me. Daily MailR “joined him onstage in Toronto back in late August for a duet of the rock band's 2005 hit song How to Save a Life.”“Slade performed the same track again as part of his opening set and also sang another The Fray hit, You Found Me.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Mixed · 2During his set Slade addressed the war in Gaza and urged people to seek 'common ground'; he said 'What's happening over there is wrong' and that 'We will find a way through this together.' NewsweekN “Slade addressed the war in Gaza and urged people to seek "common ground."” Read at Newsweek ↗ Daily MailR “'What's happening over there 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,'” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Centre · 1Macklemore was dropped after performing 'Hind's Hall' and shouting 'Free Palestine' during two Loop Tour shows; Newsweek places them at MetLife Stadium. NewsweekN “Macklemore was dropped after performing "Hind's Hall" and shouting "Free Palestine" during two Loop Tour shows at MetLife Stadium.” Read at Newsweek ↗
Right · 1The Daily Mail says Finneas, Lukas Graham and backing band Beoga quit after Macklemore was removed, and that stadium owners such as Robert Kraft allegedly threatened to cancel shows if he stayed; the Gillette Stadium shows were cancelled over weather concerns. Daily MailR “saw his supporting acts - Finneas, Lukas Graham and backing band Beoga - quit after kicking Macklemore off of the opening act lineup.”“stadium owners like Robert Kraft allegedly threatened to cancel and shut down Sheeran's following shows if Macklemore was kept as Sheeran's opening act.”“The shows at Gillette Stadium, one of multiple venues owned by Kraft, were eventually canceled due to weather concerns anyway.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Right · 1In Philadelphia on 19 September Sheeran apologised, saying he had been 'making mistakes' and was 'so, so sorry', and that he was continuing the tour alone to honour his commitment to fans. Daily MailR “He said he had been 'making mistakes' and was 'so, so sorry' for the drama and related events.”“'Honoring my commitment to my fans is also completely essential to who I am. That is why I'm here tonight, on my own, continuing my own tour.'” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Right · 1The tour continues across the United States, ending in Tampa, Florida in early November, then a Latin American leg before finishing in Mexico City on 11 December. Daily MailR “Sheeran will be continuing to take his Loop Tour across the United States before wrapping in Tampa, Florida in early November.”“concluding his world tour in Mexico City on December 11.” Read at Daily Mail ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Short, developing-story report that leads with Slade as the first guest since the support acts left.
- Emphasis
- Slade's call for 'common ground' and the Macklemore removal as background.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Omits Sheeran's apology, the Kraft pressure allegation and which acts quit.
- For example
-
“Slade is the first guest performer to appear after several opening acts left the tour following the controversy surrounding Macklemore's removal.” — Newsweek
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Celebrity-news angle that treats the 'special guest' as a reveal amid 'Macklemore drama', with detailed backstory on the backlash.
- Emphasis
- Slade's speech as seeming support for Sheeran, Sheeran's apology, the allegations about Kraft and the tour schedule.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not name the venues of Macklemore's two shows.
- Charged language
- “Macklemore drama”“massive controversy”“major public pushback”
- For example
-
“amid the controversy surrounding Macklemore's removal from his tour over his outspoken support for Palestine.” — Daily Mail
“he appeared to show his support for Sheeran amid the controversy.” — Daily Mail
What every side reports
- Isaac Slade, former frontman of The Fray, opened for Ed Sheeran in Atlanta on 3 October.
- Macklemore was removed from the Loop Tour after a 'Free Palestine' speech and performing 'Hind's Hall'.
- Other opening acts left the tour after Macklemore's removal.
- Slade spoke about Gaza and urged 'common ground'.
Where accounts differ
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Where Macklemore's two shows took place
- Centre
- Newsweek says they were at MetLife Stadium.
- Right
- The Daily Mail does not name the venues.
Ed Sheeran person
Sheeran apologised in Philadelphia for 'making mistakes', said he wants his music to be a 'safe space for everybody' and is continuing the tour to honour his commitment to fans.
“He said he had been 'making mistakes' and was 'so, so sorry' for the drama and related events.” — Daily Mail
Isaac Slade person
Slade said he was 'honored to be here' and called for common ground and peace over taking sides.
“he reportedly gushed to concertgoers and told the audience of Sheeran's fans that he was 'honored to be here.'” — Daily Mail
“urged people to seek "common ground."” — Newsweek
Macklemore person
Macklemore gave a 'Free Palestine' speech and performed 'Hind's Hall' before his removal from the tour; the articles give no response from him.
“he gave a 'Free Palestine' speech and performed his protest song Hind's Hall.” — Daily Mail
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre1 article
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Ed Sheeran Joined By First 'Special Guest' Since Opening Acts Dropped Out
Neutral Brief factual update on Slade as first guest after the exits, flagged as developing.
Right1 article
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Mixed Gossip-style, detailed account framing Slade's appearance within the Macklemore row and Sheeran's backlash.
- 4 Oct 07:56 First Daily MailR Ed Sheeran's 'special guest' at Atlanta show revealed after all other opening acts dropped out amid Macklemore drama
- 4 Oct 10:49 +2h 53m NewsweekN Ed Sheeran Joined By First 'Special Guest' Since Opening Acts Dropped Out
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.