PARIS, France (AFP) — Ed Sheeran faces boycott calls and desertions, leaving the British singer with a career crisis that underlines how even the world’s biggest stars are being sucked into the politics of the war in Gaza.

Ahead of his next scheduled concert on Saturday, the “Shape of You” pop icon has spent a week scrambling to save his Loop Tour and his public image as criticism rained down from peers and social media users.

The 35-year-old’s problems began with rapper friend Macklemore, who spoke in favor of Palestinian rights and “free Palestine” while serving as a warm-up act for Sheeran at concerts in the New Jersey MetLife stadium on 4 and 5 September.

When Macklemore was dropped from subsequent concerts — under pressure from United States stadium owners, including billionaire Robert Kraft — Sheeran came under fire.

He was accused by critics of a range of sins: failing to defend a friend and free speech, lacking courage to speak about Gaza, and prioritizing cash over principles.

“Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed,” singer Finneas, brother of Billie Eilish, wrote on social media as he and three other support acts walked out on Sheeran on Tuesday.

“If I was Ed, I’d swallow my pride and cancel the tour,” veteran British singer-songwriter Billy Bragg advised.

Palestinian group PACBI, which campaigns for a cultural boycott of Israel, urged Sheeran to reinstate Macklemore. “Until then, we call on opening artists, audiences and where possible crew to boycott the complicit tour,” it added.

“What’s a shame is that he (Sheeran) is somebody who is powerful enough and has a big enough status that he could have actually put his foot down,” Neil March, a music writer who teaches at the Institute of Contemporary Music Performance in London, told Agence France-Presse.