American rapper Macklemore has been dropped from the remaining U.S. dates of Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour following onstage comments he made in support of P
American rapper Macklemore has been dropped from the remaining U.S. dates of Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour following onstage comments he made in support of Palestinians.
During an appearance opening for Sheeran at MetLife Stadium in early September, Macklemore told the crowd he wanted the chance to say “Free Palestine” from a major stadium platform, and followed the remarks by performing his 2024 protest song “Hind’s Hall” as images from Gaza played on the venue’s screens.
The moment quickly spread across social media, drawing both support and backlash, including a petition from the Israeli American Council calling for his removal from the tour and a repost from singer Pink amplifying that call.
Messina Touring Group, promoter of the tour’s U.S. leg, said in a statement that several venues on the upcoming schedule had indicated they would not host a show with Macklemore on the lineup, a move that risked forcing cancellation of the remaining dates altogether.
After discussions with stakeholders, the promoter said it was decided Macklemore would not perform on the remaining support dates.
Among the venues involved is Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts, where owner Robert Kraft confirmed the rapper would be barred from performing on September 25 and 26, citing what he described as a broader pattern of rhetoric he found troubling alongside the Palestinian advocacy itself.
Macklemore responded with a lengthy statement alleging that Kraft had pressured Sheeran and other stadium owners with an ultimatum threatening to shut out the tour entirely if the rapper remained on the bill.
He described Sheeran as a friend who found himself in a difficult position, saying Sheeran had told him the words “Free Palestine” and the Palestinian flag had upset many people he’d spoken with.
Kraft, for his part, said the decision was not meant to dismiss the suffering of Palestinian civilians or deny anyone’s right to advocate on their behalf, but argued that advocacy should not come at what he called the expense of the Jewish community.
COMMENTS