American rapper Macklemore has been removed from the remainder of the United States leg of Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour after venue objections put the trek in jeopardy, according to statements from concert promoters reported by Rolling Stone. The Grammy-winning artist was slated to serve as an opening act for eight of the 10 remaining shows on Sheeran’s North American stadium tour, which is scheduled to resume on September 19 in Philadelphia.
Macklemore Dropped From Ed Sheeran US Tour Following Pro-Palestine Speeches
The controversy stems from appearances on September 4 and 5 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where Macklemore delivered a pro-Palestinian speech between songs. During his set, the Seattle-bred rapper told the audience, A big part of the reason why I wanted to do this tour in the first place is so I could stand up in stadiums like this and say two words that are very near and dear to my heart: ‘Free Palestine.’
He stated that he wanted people in Gaza and the occupied West Bank to know they had not been forgotten, accompanying his remarks with images from the devastation in Gaza and a performance of his protest song Hind’s Hall.
Promoter Statement and Venue Objections
Following the performances, tour promoter The Hollywood Reporter noted that Messina Touring Group received pushback from multiple facilities scheduled to host the tour. In a statement provided to The Guardian, Messina Touring Group explained: As the concert promoter for Ed Sheeran’s U.S. Loop Tour, we have been notified by venues on the upcoming U.S. tour dates 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.
The statement added that after discussions with stakeholders, Macklemore will not be performing on the remaining support dates.
According to yahoo.com, the stadiums that objected to Macklemore’s presence on the lineup include:
- Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia
- Gillette Stadium in Foxborough
- Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta
- Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis
- Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte
- AT&T Stadium in Arlington
- Raymond James Stadium in Tampa
While Bank of America Stadium and Gillette Stadium are privately owned, the remaining objecting venues are operated by government entities, which Rolling Stone reported could raise potential First Amendment issues if the facilities barred the performer over his political statements.
Public Backlash and Additional Responses
Macklemore’s remarks drew immediate criticism from advocacy organizations, including the Israeli American Council, which launched a petition demanding his removal from the tour. The petition questioned where the line should be drawn when an opening act uses a global concert platform to advance a one-sided political agenda,
as reported by Variety.
During his second MetLife Stadium appearance, Macklemore addressed Jewish members of the audience, clarifying that criticism of Israel or being against genocide was not a criticism of individuals, emphasizing a message of peace and equality. The rapper also faced online criticism from fellow singer Pink, who reposted a call for his removal and later shared a lengthy social media statement detailing her perspective on the backlash.
Tour openers Lukas Graham and Aaron Rowe remain on the bill and are set to take the stage as planned when the tour resumes.