Pop superstar Ed Sheeran stated that dropping rapper Macklemore from his stadium tour due to pro-Palestinian comments was the promoter’s decision, not his. The removal sparked venue ultimatums, including pressure from New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, and triggered a wave of supporting acts to quit in solidarity.
The MetLife Stadium Stage Remarks That Sparked the Backlash
The controversy began earlier this month during a concert at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where Macklemore introduced his protest song Hind’s Hall
by addressing the crowd directly. In video footage shared on social media, the rapper explained his motivation for joining the tour from the stage at MetLife stadium.
“One of the reasons why I wanted to come on this tour, was because I wanted to stand up here on stages and stadiums across America, and say two words that are very near and dear to my heart. Free Palestine. I said Free Palestine.”
Macklemore, Rapper
During the performance, Macklemore also attempted to preemptively address the Jewish community, stating that his criticism of Israel’s policies was in no way a criticism of you. Despite these remarks, the stage comments immediately drew outside criticism. Recording artist Pink shared a social media post from an organization that condemned the rapper’s statements, accelerating the public fallout.
Robert Kraft and Venue Owners Issue an Ultimatum
As the media attention mounted, venues lined up for upcoming dates on the tour pushed back. According to Macklemore’s account of events, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft placed a call to Sheeran to warn that the rapper would not be allowed to perform at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, later that month.
Kraft, a prominent supporter of Israel who launched a foundation to combat antisemitism in 2019, issued a public statement explaining the decision. He noted that advocacy should not come at the expense of the Jewish community or obscure the actions of Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that launched an attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
“This decision is not about diminishing the suffering of innocent Palestinians or denying anyone the right to advocate on their behalf. Their pain and loss are real… I agree with Macklemore. Too many lives have been lost and there has been too much suffering, but only sharing selective information and ignoring the actions of Hamas is not honest and only advances more divisiveness and hate.”
Robert Kraft, Owner of the New England Patriots
Kraft added that Gillette Stadium is committed to ensuring events do not provide a platform for hate speech, pointing to both Macklemore’s recent remarks and a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery from a 2014 incident where the rapper wore a costume that critics compared to a caricature of a Jewish man—an outfit Macklemore later apologized for, stating he never intended to cause offense.
Ed Sheeran Defends His Neutrality Amid Promoter Decision
Faced with mounting pressure, Ed Sheeran took to social media to clarify his own position. The British singer-songwriter emphasized that the decision to drop Macklemore was made by the promoters alone and that Macklemore’s contract was with the promoter, not him.
“There is a reason I do not use my professional platform for politics – my audience includes young people, often children, of all backgrounds. Those who come to my shows do not expect a political forum.”
Ed Sheeran, Singer-Songwriter
Sheeran revealed that he spent the week speaking with venue owners at length—including Robert Kraft—and engaged in direct talks with promoters and activists on both sides to find a mutual resolution. Ultimately, however, the venue and promoter stance was final.
The Messina Touring Group, the U.S. promoter for the tour, confirmed that venues made it clear they would not allow a concert to take place with Macklemore on the lineup, which would have forced a total cancellation impacting hundreds of thousands of fans.
Supporting Acts Aaron Rowe, Beoga, Lukas Graham, and Finneas Quit in Solidarity
The fallout quickly widened on Tuesday when multiple supporting acts and musicians announced they were abruptly quitting the tour in protest of Macklemore’s removal. Irish acts Aaron Rowe and Beoga, Danish band Lukas Graham, and musical collaborator Finneas all posted statements on Instagram withdrawing from their scheduled dates.
Finneas, the brother and collaborator of Billie Eilish who was slated to join Sheeran in South America later in the year, stated that artists must not be silenced when speaking up for the oppressed.
Several departing artists explicitly linked their exits to the financial power wielded by billionaires in the entertainment and stadium industries. Beoga and Aaron Rowe both pointed to their Irish heritage, with Rowe noting that as Irish people we know all too well about genocide, forced famine, and violent occupation. Lukas Graham echoed similar sentiments regarding wealth and voice, stating that money doesn’t give you the right to own the conversation.
What Lies Ahead as the Stadium Tour Resumes
With multiple support acts and his touring band stepping down, Sheeran faces intense operational and logistical pressure as his stadium tour prepares to resume. Macklemore was originally scheduled to perform at eight of the 10 shows remaining on the itinerary.
Whether promoters will secure replacements for the departed acts, and how audiences at these upcoming venues will react to the ongoing controversy, remains entirely open as the tour presses forward.