Macklemore Dropped from Ed Sheeran Tour Over ‘Free Palestine’ Stage Speech

Rapper cites a coordinated campaign by stadium owners to have him removed

Macklemore has been removed from the remaining US dates on Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour, following controversy surrounding his onstage “Free Palestine” comments and pro-Palestinian remarks at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium on September 4 and 5.

Macklemore’s statement:

In a lengthy Instagram post, the rapper begins by shifting attention from his removal from the tour to the plight of the Palestinian people.
He then explains his 13-year friendship with Sheeran, and that “nothing I’m writing here is out of spite or because I want to tear down his character.”
Macklemore alleges Sheeran was advised by Robert Kraft – owner of the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium, where the tour was scheduled to play later this month – that he would not allow the concert to take place if Macklemore remained on the bill.
Macklemore goes on to allege that he was told by Sheeran that Kraft rallied other stadium owners to take similar actions.

Kraft’s response:

Kraft has issued his own statement, citing that Gillette Stadium “has a longstanding commitment to providing a welcoming environment for all guests and ensuring that events held at our venue do not provide a platform for hate speech.”
He adds that the “decision is not about diminishing the suffering of innocent Palestinians or denying anyone the right to advocate on their behalf.”
But, he adds, “that advocacy should not come at the expense of the Jewish community or obscure the responsibility of Hamas, a United States and globally... designated terrorist organization.”

Messina Touring Group statement:

The promoter of Sheeran’s US leg released its own statement to Rolling Stone on Monday, saying it had been notified by venues scheduled to host the upcoming dates that they would not allow a concert featuring Macklemore to take place.
It said the decision to remove Macklemore was made after discussions with stakeholders to avoid the cancellation of the tour, which would have affected hundreds of thousands of fans.

Remaining dates:

The tour is scheduled to resume on September 19 at Lincoln Financial Field with guests Lukas Graham and Aaron Rowe.
Sheeran is, at the time of writing, yet to comment on the situation.

👋 Disclosures & Transparency Block

This story was written with information from Variety and The Hollywood Reporter.
We covered it because it’s a significant story involving a major artist, tour, and venues.