Macklemore dropped from Ed Sheeran's US tour following 'free Palestine' speech at concert

Rapper Macklemore has been officially dropped from the remaining US dates of singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran's "Loop Tour" after venue operators threatened to cancel scheduled stadium concerts over his on-stage pro-Palestinian remarks, tour promoters confirmed on Monday.

Why was Macklemore removed from the US tour lineup?

The decision follows an opening-set appearance at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, where the Seattle-born rapper told the crowd he joined the stadium tour specifically to declare "Free Palestine" and ensure that residents of Gaza and the West Bank were not forgotten. During his performance, Macklemore also delivered his 2024 protest track "Hind's Hall" alongside visual projections of Gaza and campus protest movements.

The speech sparked immediate public pushback, including criticism from singer Pink and a petition from the Israeli American Council calling for his removal. Major venue operators—led by New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, whose company operates Gillette Stadium—notified tour organizers that concerts featuring the rapper on the lineup would not be permitted to proceed.

In a statement released to media outlets, promoter Messina Touring Group confirmed that after venue warnings threatened full tour cancellations, Macklemore was removed from the remaining support dates to protect the tour for hundreds of thousands of ticket holders.

How did Macklemore respond to the tour cancellation?

Writing in a statement posted to Instagram on Monday, Macklemore confirmed his removal from the tour and addressed his 13-year friendship with Ed Sheeran, noting that Sheeran was placed in a difficult position as his typically apolitical stance came under intense public pressure. While expressing hope that their personal relationship would endure, the artist defended his decision to use the platform.

"If those words cost me the stage, while turning the conversation back to Palestine, then it was the most successful tour I've ever been on," Macklemore wrote, reiterating his solidarity with Palestinians. Macklemore has consistently engaged in pro-Palestinian advocacy, having previously released "Hind's Hall" in tribute to Hind Rajab, a young Palestinian girl killed in Gaza.