Macklemore removed from Ed Sheeran’s US tour dates

Macklemore has been removed from the remaining US dates of Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour following controversy over the rapper’s public comments in support of Palestine.

The decision means Macklemore will no longer appear as an opening act for Sheeran during the rest of the singer’s US tour. The change was confirmed by Messina Touring Group, the promoter handling Sheeran’s US shows.

In a statement, the promoter explained that venues scheduled to host the upcoming concerts would not allow the shows to go ahead with Macklemore included in the lineup.

The promoter said keeping the rapper on the tour could have created difficulties for the remaining performances and potentially led to cancellations. Such cancellations could have affected hundreds of thousands of fans who had already planned to attend the concerts.

Following discussions with the relevant stakeholders, the decision was made to remove Macklemore from the remaining support dates.

The move comes less than two weeks after the rapper performed at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey as part of Sheeran’s tour.

During his opening performance, Macklemore spoke openly about his support for Palestinians. He told the large stadium audience that one of the reasons he agreed to join the tour was to have an opportunity to use stadium performances to raise his voice for Palestine.

The rapper encouraged the crowd to support the message of “Free Palestine” during his set.

Macklemore has been vocal about the situation in Gaza and his support for Palestinians for several years. His political stance has also become a significant part of his public image, particularly since the escalation of the Israel-Gaza conflict.

In 2024, the rapper released his protest song Hind’s Hall, which addressed the war in Gaza and expressed solidarity with Palestinians. He later performed the song during his appearance at MetLife Stadium before Sheeran took the stage.

His comments during the Loop Tour quickly attracted criticism from some groups and individuals who opposed his presence on the tour.

An Israeli-American Council petition was launched calling for Macklemore to be removed from Sheeran’s concerts. The petition reflected growing criticism of the rapper’s statements and his decision to use his performances to speak about the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Singer Pink also became involved in the controversy after resharing a post that supported the decision to remove Macklemore from the tour.

The backlash prompted Macklemore to further explain his position. The rapper argued that criticism of the Israeli government and opposition to what he described as genocide should not be viewed as an attack on Jewish people.

He has repeatedly attempted to separate his political criticism from Jewish identity, saying that his opposition is directed toward policies and actions rather than an entire religious or ethnic community.

Macklemore also addressed the issue on social media, writing that wanting equal treatment and rights for all people should not be considered controversial.

His removal from the Loop Tour has now added another major development to the ongoing debate surrounding artists using their platforms to speak about international conflicts.

The next US date on Sheeran’s Loop Tour is scheduled for September 19 in Philadelphia. Lukas Graham and Aaron Rowe are currently set to perform as opening acts for that show.

Sheeran’s US tour dates are expected to continue through November 7, with performances scheduled across several cities.

The controversy surrounding Macklemore has placed renewed attention on the challenges artists and promoters can face when political statements become part of major commercial concert events. While musicians have long used performances to express their views, the latest dispute highlights how such statements can affect tour lineups, venues and audiences.