Fact Check: Did Kid Rock offer support to Ed Sheeran amid Macklemore tour backlash?

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Amid the backlash against Ed Sheeran for the removal of Macklemore from his tour due to a pro-Palestine remark, a rumor has been circulating on social media platforms claiming that popular singer and rapper Kid Rock has expressed solidarity with Sheeran.

The claim has sparked criticism and speculation, prompting a fact-check.

Claim: Kid Rock expressed solidarity with Ed Sheeran

According to a viral post that surfaced on X, amid attempts to cancel Sheeran for trying to keep politics out of his music, the country world has rallied around him.

It further states that as his own house band turned on the English singer, he got a call from Kid Rock letting him know that he and several of his close friends have Sheeran’s back. “I’ll have some of the biggest opening acts of all time,” said Sheeran. “I feel like I should be opening for some of them.” 

The post claimed that Kid Rock will perform at least five shows, including the dates at Gillette Stadium, and other artists who have committed to lending a hand include Jason Aldean, Morgan Wallen, and Hank Williams Jr. 

The post has garnered tens of thousands of likes as of this writing, with many appearing to believe it to be true, while others dismiss it as fake.

Fact Check: No credible evidence to support the claim

However, the claim is false, as there are no reports of the rapper speaking in favor of the Grammy Award-winning artist.

There are no official statements, announcements, or social media posts from the country rock musician that support the claim.

The claim about the other artists mentioned who have come out in support of Sheeran is also baseless. If Kid Rock had really made such a statement, it would not go unreported by prominent news and entertainment media outlets, but a Google search for the claim returned no such reports.

Moreover, the account that posted the claim is not credible, and though not explicitly a parody account, it has posted several such fake and unverified claims, likely intended as satire.

Ed Sheeran's band quits in support of Macklemore

The claim surfaced amid the backlash after Macklemore was removed from Sheeran’s stadium tour after several venues allegedly stated that they would not allow him to perform for making several onstage statements in support of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank and calling for a “free Palestine.”    

Sheeran's opening acts and his own band have quit his tour in the US in solidarity with Macklemore.