Why was Macklemore dropped from Ed Sheeran’s tour? Palestine controversy explained

Macklemore has been removed from the remaining U.S. dates of Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour after his outspoken support for Palestine triggered a backlash from Jewish advocacy groups and objections from venues scheduled to host the concerts.

The decision came days after the rapper used his opening performances at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey to call for a “Free Palestine” and speak about the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

The controversy quickly moved beyond the stage. A petition called for Macklemore to be removed from Sheeran’s tour, while the promoter behind the U.S. dates said several venues would not allow concerts to proceed with the rapper on the lineup.

Macklemore has since addressed the decision publicly, arguing that pressure from stadium owners ultimately forced Sheeran’s hand. Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium, has disputed the framing while defending the decision to exclude the rapper from his venue.

Why Was Macklemore Dropped From Ed Sheeran’s Tour?

Macklemore was removed from the remaining U.S. shows after venues reportedly objected to his participation following his pro-Palestinian remarks at MetLife Stadium.

Messina Touring Group, the promoter for the U.S. leg of Sheeran’s tour, said venues had notified the company that they would not allow concerts to take place with Macklemore on the bill.

The promoter said keeping him on the lineup could have resulted in tour cancellations affecting hundreds of thousands of fans. After discussions with the relevant stakeholders, Macklemore was removed from the remaining support dates.

That means the immediate reason given for his departure was venue opposition and the risk of cancellations, rather than a public announcement that Sheeran personally fired him over his political views.

Macklemore, however, offered a more pointed explanation.

What Did Macklemore Say About Palestine?

During his September 4 performance at MetLife Stadium, Macklemore delivered a speech explaining why he wanted to perform on Sheeran’s stadium tour.

He told the crowd that one of the reasons he accepted the tour was the opportunity to stand before large American audiences and say “Free Palestine.”

He also said he wanted people in Gaza and the occupied West Bank to know they had not been forgotten.

The rapper performed his protest song “Hind’s Hall”, while images connected to the destruction in Gaza appeared on stadium screens.

Macklemore had already established himself as a prominent celebrity voice on the Israel-Gaza war. His song “Hind’s Hall”, released in 2024, became part of his broader public advocacy for Palestinians.

He repeated his support for Palestine during his second MetLife performance on September 5, while stressing that criticism of Israel should not be interpreted as criticism of Jewish people.

Why Did the Speech Cause a Backlash?

Macklemore’s comments were praised by supporters of Palestinian rights but strongly criticized by some Jewish advocacy organizations.

The Israeli American Council called for his removal from the tour, questioning whether an opening act should use a major concert platform for political advocacy.

StopAntisemitism also criticized the performance, accusing Macklemore of presenting what it described as anti-Israel messaging to concertgoers.

The backlash was amplified when singer Pink discussed the controversy publicly.

Pink said she did not object to Macklemore saying “Free Palestine” but described herself as a Jewish mother who felt frightened by aspects of the situation. Her comments added another layer to the dispute, highlighting the tension between support for Palestinian rights and concerns about antisemitism and the safety of Jewish audiences.

Macklemore later responded directly to Jewish members of the audience, saying his criticism of Israel, including accusations relating to apartheid and genocide, was not directed at Jewish people.

What Did Robert Kraft Have to Do With Macklemore’s Removal?

One of the most significant developments came when Macklemore claimed that Robert Kraft played a role in the pressure campaign that resulted in his removal.

Kraft owns the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, one of the venues scheduled to host Sheeran’s tour.

According to Macklemore, Kraft and other stadium owners pressured Sheeran over the rapper’s continued presence on the tour. Macklemore claimed Sheeran was placed in a difficult position because the singer risked losing access to major venues if the controversy continued.

Kraft acknowledged that Macklemore’s comments contributed to the decision concerning Gillette Stadium.

He said the stadium is intended to be welcoming to all guests and described some of Macklemore’s rhetoric and imagery as deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community.

Kraft also said he would be willing to meet Macklemore to discuss the issue, adding that he supports peace, an end to suffering and an end to hate.

READ ALSO

Garth Brooks announces massive ‘blame it all on my roots’ tour: What to know

Did Ed Sheeran Personally Remove Macklemore?

That remains more complicated than a simple yes-or-no answer.

Macklemore said he had several difficult conversations with Sheeran, describing the singer as a friend of 13 years and someone he considers a brother.

He also said Sheeran was under pressure from stadium owners and that the singer’s normally apolitical position was being challenged by the controversy.

Messina Touring Group, however, publicly framed the decision around venue restrictions and the potential consequences for the wider tour.

Sheeran had not publicly offered a detailed explanation for Macklemore’s removal at the time of the announcement.

The distinction matters because the controversy is not simply about whether Sheeran agreed with Macklemore’s views. The practical issue became whether the tour could continue at major stadiums with Macklemore as an opening act.

How Many Ed Sheeran Tour Shows Will Macklemore Miss?

Macklemore was scheduled to perform at eight of the remaining 10 U.S. shows on the Loop Tour.

The tour is scheduled to resume in Philadelphia on September 19 before moving through several major stadium markets.

The remaining U.S. run includes stops in cities such as Philadelphia, Foxborough, Atlanta, Indianapolis, Charlotte, Arlington and Tampa.

Macklemore will no longer perform as an opening act at those remaining dates.

Lukas Graham and Aaron Rowe are among the support acts continuing with the tour.

Macklemore Says Palestine Was Worth the Consequences

In his response to the removal, Macklemore rejected the idea that he was the central victim of the dispute.

He argued that artists with money, careers, safety and international audiences could return home despite professional consequences, while Palestinians affected by the conflict face far more serious hardships.

He also questioned why his political statements became a major problem only after he joined one of the world’s biggest stadium tours.

Macklemore pointed out that he had been speaking publicly about Palestine for years.

His argument is that the size of Sheeran’s tour changed the scale of the controversy: his message was no longer being delivered at his own concerts but to tens of thousands of people inside some of America’s biggest stadiums.

That distinction has become central to the debate surrounding his removal.

What Happens to Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour Now?

Ed Sheeran’s U.S. Loop Tour is expected to continue without Macklemore.

The controversy has not resulted in the cancellation of the wider tour. The remaining shows are still scheduled, with other opening acts continuing.

The episode does, however, raise a broader question about how much political expression promoters and venues are willing to tolerate from artists performing at large commercial events.

For Macklemore, the removal has become another chapter in his increasingly public activism over Gaza and Palestine. For Sheeran and the tour’s promoters, the decision appears to have been driven by the need to keep the stadium schedule intact.

The dispute is now larger than a missing opening act. It has become a test of where concert organizers draw the line between an artist’s freedom to speak on political issues and a venue’s right to protect its audience, business relationships and event operations.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was Macklemore removed from Ed Sheeran’s tour?

Macklemore was removed from the remaining U.S. dates after venues objected to his participation following his pro-Palestinian statements at MetLife Stadium. The tour promoter said keeping him on the lineup could have resulted in cancellations.

What did Macklemore say at Ed Sheeran’s concert?

Macklemore repeatedly called for a “Free Palestine” and expressed solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. He also performed “Hind’s Hall” during his MetLife Stadium appearances.

Did Macklemore get cancelled because he supports Palestine?

His support for Palestine was at the centre of the controversy. The immediate reason given by the tour promoter was that venues would not allow concerts with Macklemore on the lineup, creating a risk of cancellations.

Did Ed Sheeran fire Macklemore?

Macklemore said Sheeran and his team decided to remove him after difficult conversations. The tour promoter publicly explained the decision as a response to venue objections and the potential impact on the remaining concerts.

What did Robert Kraft say about Macklemore?

Kraft defended the decision involving Gillette Stadium and said Macklemore’s rhetoric and imagery had been deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community. He also said he would welcome a conversation with the rapper.

Is Macklemore still performing on Ed Sheeran’s tour?

No. Macklemore has been removed from the remaining U.S. support dates on Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour.

When did Macklemore make the “Free Palestine” speech?

Macklemore made the remarks during his September 4, 2026 performance at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. He repeated his support for Palestine during the September 5 show.

What is “Hind’s Hall” by Macklemore?

“Hind’s Hall” is Macklemore’s protest song addressing the Israel-Gaza war and supporting Palestinians. The song references protests and the killing of Hind Rajab, a six-year-old Palestinian girl.

Will Ed Sheeran’s tour continue without Macklemore?

Yes. The remaining U.S. dates are scheduled to continue with other support acts after Macklemore’s removal.