Hayley Williams features Macklemore, Beoga and Aaron Rowe in pre-show playlist in wake of Ed Sheeran controversy

Hayley Williams has featured Macklemore, Beoga and Aaron Rowe in her pre-show playlist following the Ed Sheeran controversy.

This comes ahead of her New York date tonight. Also featured are FINNEAS and Lukas Graham - the five artists are the only ones on the playlist.

The musicians all withdrew from Sheeran's tour after Macklemore was removed following onstage 'free Palestine' remarks.

Williams is set to play Slane Castle as a special guest alongside Fontaines D.C. on June 26 and 27, 2027. Damien Dempsey and Madra Salach will also support.

The date comes as part of her upcoming The Hayley Williams Show tour, which includes performances around the UK and Europe.

The controversy between Sheeran and Macklemore began after the American rapper joined Sheeran for two shows at MetLife stadium in New Jersey on September 4 and 5. There, he called for a free Palestine, playing his protest track, 'Hind's Hall', while showing images of Gaza onscreen.

Following the shows, the Israeli-American Council created a petition calling for his removal and he received backlash from other artists.

Subsequently, Macklemore issued a statement reaffirming his message and confirming that he had been dropped from the tour. Sheeran then followed up with his own statement, asserting that the decision was made by the tour promoter, not him. He avoided taking a political stance.

Earlier today, Robert Kraft, who owns Gillette Stadium and had Macklemore removed from the tour, said Sheeran asked him to match his own $2M (€1.74M) donation for "aid in the region."

Several artists, including Massive Attack, BIIRD, Mary Lambert and more, have shown their solidarity with Macklemore. The Irish radio station Classic Hits Radio also announced that it is removing Sheeran's music from its playlist "for the foreseeable future."

Tickets for Fontaines and Hayley Williams' Slane Castle date are available here.