Macklemore Dropped from Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour Over Pro-Palestinian Remarks

Macklemore has said he was removed from Ed Sheeran's Loop tour after several United States venues refused to allow him to perform as the opening act, following pro-Palestinian remarks he made onstage earlier this month.

In a statement posted on Instagram on Monday, the Grammy-winning rapper said venues had told the promoter they would not permit a concert with him on the lineup. He said Sheeran's team then decided to take him off the tour.

Messina Touring Group, the promoter, confirmed it had been notified by venues that "they will not allow a concert to take place with Macklemore on the lineup, which would result in the cancellation of the tour and impact hundreds of thousands of fans."

Among the venues is Gillette Stadium, home of the NFL's New England Patriots. Its owner, Robert Kraft, said the decision stemmed from 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 move was not intended to diminish the suffering of innocent Palestinians or deny anyone the right to advocate on their behalf, saying their pain and loss are real. He said Macklemore's advocacy should not come at the expense of the Jewish community or obscure the responsibility of Hamas.

Macklemore, born Benjamin Hammond Haggerty in Washington state, exclaimed "Free Palestine" during the Sept. 5 date of the tour while introducing his protest song "Hind's Hall." The song, written after the 2024 campus protests in support of Palestinians, is named for Hind Rajab, a five-year-old Palestinian girl killed after Israeli forces fired on her family's car in Gaza City.

During the New Jersey concert, he told his Jewish brothers and sisters that criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid and opposition to genocide were in no way criticism of them, describing his message as one of peace, love and dignity for all human beings.

The remarks drew criticism from fellow singer Pink, who herself then faced backlash.

Macklemore said he holds no ill will toward Sheeran, whom he considers a friend. "But as I told Ed multiple times on the phone, our friendship can't change my responsibility to tell the truth about what happened," he wrote.

He suggested the reaction was tied to the scale of the platform, writing that at a certain level of exposure, "Free Palestine" becomes too much of a risk. He noted he has made similar comments about the plight of Palestinians for years.

A growing chorus of organizations and experts say Israel's wartime actions in Gaza amount to genocide, an accusation Israel vehemently rejects. Sheeran has not commented, and representatives for the singer did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The Loop Tour is scheduled to appear at venues including Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia; Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia; Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis; Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina; AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas; and Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.