Macklemore said Monday that he has been removed from Ed Sheeran's Loop tour due to pro-Palestinian comments he made onstage earlier this month at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium. Several U.S. venues informed the promoter they would not permit him to perform as an opening act, leading Sheeran's team to remove him from the tour.
In a statement shared on Instagram, Macklemore stated that at a "certain level of exposure, ‘Free Palestine’ becomes too much of a risk." He noted that he has been vocal about the plight of Palestinians for years, but the heightened scrutiny is due to his participation in Sheeran's tour, which plays in large stadiums.
The promoter, Messina Touring Group, confirmed that venues had notified them of their refusal to allow Macklemore on the lineup, which would have resulted in tour cancellations impacting thousands of fans. Gillette Stadium was among the venues, with owner Robert Kraft citing Macklemore's recent comments and "a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery that we believe has been deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community."
Kraft added that the decision was not intended to diminish the suffering of Palestinians or deny anyone the right to advocate on their behalf, but that Macklemore's advocacy "should not come at the expense of the Jewish community or obscure the responsibility of Hamas."
Macklemore, born Benjamin Hammond Haggerty, made the "Free Palestine" remark on September 5 while introducing his protest song "Hind's Hall." The song, written in response to 2024 campus protests supporting Palestinians, is named after Hind Rajab, a 5-year-old Palestinian girl killed in Gaza City.
During the concert, Macklemore also stated, “To all of my Jewish brothers and sisters, criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide, it in no way is criticism of you. This message is for peace, love, for all human beings to be treated with dignity, respect, and equality.”
While Macklemore expressed no ill will toward Sheeran, whom he considers a friend, he emphasized his responsibility to speak his truth. Sheeran has not publicly commented on the matter, and representatives for the singer did not immediately respond to requests for comment.