Rapper Macklemore has been removed from the remaining U.S. dates of Ed Sheeran's "Loop Tour" after voicing pro-Palestine sentiments and performing his song "Hind's Hall." Macklemore stated that the tour promoter, Messina Touring Group, informed venues that his inclusion would lead to cancellations. He also alleged that Robert Kraft, owner of Gillette Stadium, rallied other stadium owners to collectively present Sheeran with an ultimatum: remove Macklemore or lose access to their venues.
Macklemore addressed the situation in an Instagram post, emphasizing that while he and Sheeran are friends, their fundamental disagreements on the issue of Palestine could not be ignored. "The victims are the Palestinian people. The men, women and children who have been killed, starved, displaced and forced to live through unimaginable violence," Macklemore wrote. He noted that while he and Sheeran have careers and safety, "whatever consequences any of us face for what we say, we get to go home to our families."
The rapper's removal comes after he chanted "Free Palestine" during his opening performance for Sheeran at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, accompanied by visuals from the Gaza conflict. This performance drew criticism from some fans and organizations.
Macklemore stated that he has been vocal about his pro-Palestine stance for nearly three years. He questioned why his remarks became an issue now, suggesting that his elevated platform alongside Sheeran made "Free Palestine" a perceived risk. "At a certain level of exposure, ‘Free Palestine’ becomes too much of a risk," he wrote. "The stage becomes resistance. Maybe that’s why this time it became so important to silence me."
He also addressed the use of accusations of antisemitism, stating, "Antisemitism is real. And that is exactly why the word matters too much to be used as a shield against criticism of the Israeli state. When criticizing Israel, opposing Zionism or saying ‘Free Palestine’ gets conflated with hatred of Jewish people, it doesn’t protect Jewish people. It protects Israel from accountability."
Macklemore expressed hope that his friendship with Sheeran would endure the situation, acknowledging Sheeran's difficult position and his desire to remain apolitical. "He told me that the words 'Free Palestine' and the image of the Palestinian flag were hurtful to a lot of people he spoke with," Macklemore recounted. "I told him that if those words were more offensive than tens of thousands of Palestinian children being killed by Israel, then there was a fundamental disconnect between where those people stood and where I stood."
Representatives for Ed Sheeran did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Macklemore was scheduled to perform at eight remaining U.S. dates on the tour.