Macklemore is officially off Ed Sheeran’s U.S. tour after his pro-Palestine remarks triggered backlash and several venues reportedly objected to having him on the lineup.
The rapper had been scheduled to perform on the remaining dates of Sheeran’s U.S. Loop Tour, but tour promoter Messina Touring Group said venues had notified the company that they would not allow concerts to proceed with Macklemore included. The promoter said the situation threatened the tour itself and could have affected hundreds of thousands of fans.
The controversy stems from Macklemore’s performances at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey earlier this month, where he told the crowd “Free Palestine” before performing his protest song “Hind’s Hall.”
The comments prompted backlash, including a petition from the Israeli-American Council calling for Macklemore to be removed from the tour.
Macklemore subsequently defended his position, saying his criticism of Israel was not directed at Jewish people and framing his message around peace and equal treatment.
Pink was also pulled into the dispute after reposting criticism of Macklemore, although she later clarified that she was not personally calling for him to be removed from the tour.
The rapper later broke his silence on his removal and pointed the finger at Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
Macklemore claimed Ed Sheeran told him Kraft had said he would not be allowed to perform at Gillette Stadium. He further alleged that Kraft rallied other stadium owners and that Sheeran was effectively given an ultimatum: keep Macklemore on the tour or risk losing access to their venues.
Those broader allegations remain Macklemore’s account. Kraft has separately confirmed that he barred Macklemore from performing at Gillette Stadium, citing what he described as Macklemore’s recent stage material and a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery.
At least two privately owned stadiums connected to the controversy are Gillette Stadium and Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, which are associated with Kraft and Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper, respectively. However, the available reporting does not establish that Tepper personally participated in a coordinated effort against Macklemore.
Macklemore says he understands Sheeran was placed in a difficult position and insists he is not trying to destroy their longtime friendship.
But his removal means the remaining U.S. dates will continue without him — turning what began as an onstage political statement into a much larger dispute involving artists, promoters, stadium owners and the boundaries of political expression at major concerts.
