Macklemore Dropped from Ed Sheeran’s U.S. Tour After ‘Free Palestine’ Remarks

A week after Macklemore called to ‘Free Palestine’ and performed his anti-Israel song ‘Hind’s Hall’ while opening for Ed Sheeran, he was removed from the remaining U.S. dates on Sheeran’s ‘Loop Tour.’ The concert promoter, Messina Touring Group, confirmed that venues would not allow Macklemore to perform. This decision potentially averted the cancellation of the tour, impacting hundreds of thousands of fans.

Macklemore was originally scheduled for eight of the final ten shows in the U.S. leg of Sheeran’s tour. Following his removal, Macklemore addressed the situation on Instagram, emphasizing he was not a victim and expressing his support for Palestinians.

“I’m not a victim. Ed Sheeran is not a victim. Pink is not a victim. We have careers, money, opportunities, safety, and audiences worldwide. The victims are the Palestinian people,” Macklemore stated.

The rapper highlighted the plight of Palestinians in Gaza, mentioning the deaths and displacement they face. Macklemore noted that more than 20,000 children have died in Gaza.

At MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, Macklemore repeatedly chanted ‘Free Palestine,’ displaying war footage from Gaza. This led to a backlash, with an Instagram page, ‘Stop Antisemitism,’ criticizing his performance. Pink reposted a video of this backlash, igniting further controversy.

Macklemore detailed conversations with Sheeran, describing them as rooted in love and respect but ending in fundamental disagreement. The rapper revealed that discussions with Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium, influenced his removal.

“Ed also told me that Kraft had rallied some of the other stadium owners and collectively gave him an ultimatum: if Macklemore stays on the tour, you will not be allowed to play in our venues,” Macklemore explained.

Macklemore has vocally supported Palestinians for years and questioned why his statements became an issue now. He suggested the controversy arose because of his high-profile stage presence with Sheeran.

He argued that accusations of antisemitism have been used to silence criticism of Israel, clarifying that his criticism is aimed at the Israeli state and not at Jewish people.

Despite the fallout, Macklemore hopes his friendship with Sheeran won’t be damaged. He affirmed his stance, stating that those two performances were vital to voice support for Palestine.