The rumor emerged in the wake of a recent dispute surrounding rapper Macklemore, who was cut from the lineup following pro-Palestinian remarks.
WASHINGTON, DC: Social media has been buzzing with a fabricated story claiming that Ed Sheeran revealed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as his tour’s replacement opening act.
Because the viral post followed the fallout over Macklemore’s departure from the concert series, numerous internet users mistakenly believed the satirical post was a genuine announcement. Here is a breakdown of the facts.
Claim: Ed Sheeran names Benjamin Netanyahu as his new tour opener
The hoax was started by an X (formerly Twitter) user operating under the handle Daily Noud, who posted that Ed Sheeran had tapped Benjamin Netanyahu to open for his ongoing concert series. The post featured side-by-side images of the British pop star and the Israeli leader alongside the caption, “Ed Sheeran announces Benjamin Netanyahu as the new opener for his tour.”
Amassing over 100,000 likes and 1 million views, the post gained traction immediately. The timing coincided with heavy media coverage of Macklemore being dropped as Sheeran’s opening act after voicing pro-Palestinian views during the singer’s performances in New Jersey.
Reports indicated that the controversy sparked pushback from venue operators, while solidarity pressures led other supporting acts to step away.
During his September 4 and 5, 2026, opening sets for Sheeran at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium, Macklemore chanted “Free Palestine,” performed his protest track ‘Hind’s Hall,’ exhibited accompanying visuals, and addressed the political situations in Gaza and the West Bank. These actions drew sharp rebukes from Jewish advocacy organizations and prompted online petitions for his dismissal.
Shortly after, Robert Kraft—owner of the New England Patriots and operator of Gillette Stadium—banned the rapper from subsequent Massachusetts performances. Additional venue owners reportedly issued ultimatums to the tour organizers, threatening to cancel remaining U.S. stops unless Macklemore was removed from the bill.
Fact Check: False, the report originated from a satire page
The viral narrative is entirely fictional and rooted in satire. The announcement was crafted purely as a joke by a parody account.
The X profile @DailyNoud clearly notes in its biography that it shares satirical content and fabricated news, explicitly stating it is neither affiliated with nor meant to impersonate @DailyLoud.
A review of major news networks and entertainment publications—including the BBC, Reuters, CNN, Billboard, Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, and The Guardian—revealed zero coverage between September 14 and 16, 2026, supporting the notion that Sheeran added Netanyahu, or any other political figure, to his tour lineup.
Furthermore, neither Sheeran, his management, nor his official tour promoters have issued any statements or social media posts linking Netanyahu to the concerts. The graphics utilized in the viral post were simply standard portraits of the two men, devoid of any official tour branding.
The parody account capitalized on the genuine headlines surrounding the Macklemore controversy, using dark humor to mock the situation by substituting the musician with a high-profile politician.
Ultimately, there is no validity to the rumor. Sheeran has not named a new opening act, and upcoming tour dates either leave the slot listed as “TBA” or omit an opener entirely.