Contest Offering Chance to Open for Ed Sheeran Amid Tour Shakeup
The site is filled with meme videos and pro-Palestine posts after backlash over Macklemore’s removal from Sheeran’s tour.
- On Monday, Sept 14, Guitar Center launched an 'Open for Legends' competition allowing one winner to open for Sheeran in Mexico City on Dec 11, but the contest website has been flooded with protest videos supporting Palestine instead of genuine auditions.
- Messina Touring Group, promoter of Sheeran's Loop Tour, stated that venues refused to allow American rapper Macklemore to perform, citing his on-stage comments supporting Palestine made during his opening set on Sept 5.
- Sheeran, 35, has insisted he is "not complicit" in the removal decision, yet his remaining support acts have withdrawn from the tour in solidarity with Macklemore, leaving the British singer-songwriter without backing musicians.
- Most entries on the contest website are memes and non-musical videos mocking the singer because the site lacks filters to verify intent, with only a handful featuring musicians earnestly seeking to open for the "Thinking Out Loud" singer.
- Sheeran and billionaire sports owner Robert Kraft pledged $2m each toward humanitarian relief, while Macklemore committed his $1m in tour earnings to six organizations supporting Palestinian people.
12 Articles
12 Articles
Contest offering chance to open for Ed Sheeran amid tour shakeup
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 12: Ed Sheeran performs onstage during iHeartRadio z100’s Jingle Ball 2025 Presented By Capital One at Madison Square Garden on December 12, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for iHeartRadio)
Multitude of users have falsely registered to boycott the contest as a protest against what happened.
Ed Sheeran Contest Flooded With Pro-Palestine Entries, Guitar Center Speaks Out
Guitar Center is speaking out after pro-Palestine submissions swamped its contest to pick an opener for Ed Sheeran ... and the company says those folks won't be considered. Here's the deal ... Guitar Center's "Open for Legends" contest
The Independent
The Independent (US)Want to open for Ed Sheeran? Ill-timed contest to find support act gets fake entries
Sheeran’s support acts have all pulled out of his Loop tour in solidarity with US rapper Macklemore, who was removed following his pro-Palestine comments
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 78% of the sources lean Left
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
