Macklemore Dropped From Ed Sheeran Tour Over Pro-Palestine Remarks

US rapper Macklemore confirmed on Instagram that "Ed Sheeran and his team" removed him from the tour after he said "Free Palestine" during performances.

Billionaire Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium, led a campaign to remove Macklemore, threatening to block Sheeran from using his stadium and rallying other stadium owners. Macklemore, whose real name is Ben Haggerty, alleged Kraft called Sheeran and threatened to cancel Sheeran's planned tour stop if Macklemore was still performing.

This followed Macklemore's pro-Palestine remarks during opening performances for Sheeran's tour at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on September 4 and 5. Macklemore had been scheduled to support Sheeran at eight of the 10 remaining shows on the US stadium tour. Messina Touring Group, the tour promoter, confirmed that multiple venues stated they would not allow a concert to take place with Macklemore on the lineup, which would result in tour cancellation.

Sheeran issued a statement on Instagram, confirming venues contacted him about pulling tour dates after Macklemore's MetLife performance. Sheeran stated the venues' stance was based on how Macklemore conveyed part of his message, not everything said. He added that the tour promoter ultimately decided to pull Macklemore, whose contract was with the promoter, not Sheeran.

Sheeran stated he has personal views on this devastating conflict but chooses not to speak publicly, as he does not use his professional platform for politics. Kraft, a Jewish-American and advocate of Israel, stated Macklemore's participation at Gillette Stadium would cross that line of providing a platform for hate speech, citing recent actions, material shared from the stage and a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery.

Macklemore, 43, stated, "The victims are the Palestinian people." Dearborn Mayor Abdullah H. Hammoud, 35, invited Macklemore to perform a city-sponsored free concert in Dearborn, Michigan, stating, "We stand with you and for a free Palestine. Let’s make it happen."