Macklemore was cut from Ed Sheeran's US tour after saying "Free Palestine" on stage, and the backlash has now turned on Sheeran himself — bad news for Sheeran, and a sign of how much sway pro-Israel donors hold over big venues.

• Macklemore called for a free Palestine and condemned genocide at a New Jersey show, saying criticism of Israel is not criticism of Jewish people.
• The Anti-Defamation League, StopAntisemitism, and the Israeli-American Council pushed to have him removed, and Patriots owner Robert Kraft barred him from Gillette Stadium, calling it hate speech.
• Kraft then rallied other stadium owners, who told Sheeran they would cancel his shows if Macklemore stayed, and Sheeran gave in.
• Sheeran's own band and every other opening act quit the tour in protest, and he lost half a million followers.
• Macklemore is donating the $1 million he earned from the tour to Palestinian charities; Kraft, a major AIPAC donor and Netanyahu ally, countered with a pledge of $2 million for "aid in the region."

Outlook: The censorship effort is backfiring, drawing far more attention to Palestine than Macklemore's remarks ever would have, and Sheeran will likely struggle to finish the tour with his crew gone.