Macklemore has been removed from the remaining dates of Ed Sheeran’s U.S. Loop Tour following backlash over his outspoken support for Palestine during a recent performance.
The rapper made the comments on September 4 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where he was performing as an opening act for Sheeran. During his set, Macklemore told the audience that one of the reasons he wanted to join the tour was to use the stadium platform to say “Free Palestine.” He subsequently performed his 2024 protest song “Hind’s Hall”, while footage connected to the conflict in Gaza was displayed on the screens.
The performance triggered criticism from several Jewish advocacy groups, including the Israeli-American Council (IAC) and the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). The IAC launched a petition calling for Macklemore to be removed from the tour, arguing that his appearance had turned a concert into a platform for political messaging.
Macklemore, however, defended his position. He has previously been vocal about the war in Gaza through his music and public statements, particularly through “Hind’s Hall,” which was released in 2024 in response to the conflict and pro-Palestinian demonstrations in the United States.
Following the backlash, Messina Touring Group, the promoter of Sheeran’s U.S. tour, confirmed that Macklemore would no longer perform on the remaining support dates. The promoter said several venues had notified them that they would not allow concerts to proceed with Macklemore on the lineup, creating a situation that could have affected the wider tour.
Macklemore was scheduled to perform at eight of Sheeran’s remaining 10 U.S. shows, beginning with the September 19 concert in Philadelphia.
In a lengthy statement, Macklemore revealed that he and Sheeran had held what he described as difficult conversations following the controversy. He also claimed that Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium, played a role in rallying other stadium owners against his continued participation in the tour. Those claims have become another major part of the controversy surrounding his removal.
Kraft has defended his position, saying he believes there is a line between criticism of Israel and what he considers antisemitic rhetoric. Macklemore, meanwhile, has rejected accusations of antisemitism and argued that criticism of the Israeli government and support for Palestinian rights should not be equated with hatred of Jewish people.
Ed Sheeran has not publicly commented on the decision as of the latest reports.
The controversy highlights the increasingly complicated relationship between music, political expression and major commercial tours, particularly when artists use large entertainment platforms to speak about international conflicts.
For Macklemore, his removal from one of the year’s biggest stadium tours represents a significant professional consequence of his decision to continue publicly advocating for Palestine.
