Dunedin Ed Sheeran mural defaced for second time in a week
Thursday 24 September 2026 · 2 outlets · 2 reports · updated In this story Ed Sheeran
New symbols, including dollar signs and a Star of David, have been spraypainted onto the Ed Sheeran mural in Dunedin. This follows previous vandalism involving the words "Free Palestine" last week. The incidents occur amid controversy surrounding the musician's tour and comments regarding Gaza.
Key facts
5 facts
- The mural was painted by Tyler Kennedy Stent in 2018
- The mural is located on Bath Street in Dunedin
- Macklemore was removed from the tour by promoter Messina Touring Group
- The mural was defaced with dollar signs and a Star of David on Wednesday
- The Dunedin City Council commissioned the mural in 2018
The full story
1 min read · 2 outlets
The Ed Sheeran mural in Dunedin has been vandalised for the second time in a week. New symbols, including dollar signs over the musician's eyes and a Star of David on his forehead, were added on Wednesday. This follows an incident last Thursday where the words "Free Palestine" were spraypainted on the artwork.
The mural was originally painted in 2018 by artist Tyler Kennedy Stent for Sheeran's three Dunedin concerts. Stent expressed support for the previous graffiti, stating the tag was a "welcome addition to the mural". He also said he supported artists taking such a stance because "the international community is failing Palestinians profoundly".
The vandalism follows controversy regarding Sheeran's tour, after rapper Macklemore was removed from the lineup for making pro-Palestinian comments. Sheeran stated that the decision to end Macklemore's contract was made by the promoter, Messina Touring Group, rather than himself. Sheeran later addressed the situation on stage, saying the Israeli military's actions in Gaza were "catastrophic and unjustifiable".
Where reports differ
- One report states the 'Free Palestine' graffiti appeared last week, while another specifies it occurred last Thursday morning
Compiled from reports by Stuff and 1News.