Macklemore Dropped From Ed Sheeran Tour After Gaza Speech on September 14

Rapper Macklemore has been dropped from the remainder of Ed Sheeran’s US Loop Tour after delivering pro-Palestinian remarks on stage September 4 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Macklemore told the audience he wanted people in Gaza and the occupied West Bank to know they had not been forgotten, then performed his protest song ‘Hind’s Hall.’ Multiple venues, including Patriots owner Robert Kraft at Gillette Stadium, refused to allow him to perform, forcing tour promoter Messina Touring Group to remove him from eight of the ten remaining shows.

What Macklemore said on stage

On September 4, Macklemore told the MetLife Stadium crowd that he wanted to say two words ‘very near and dear to my heart: Free Palestine.’ He performed ‘Hind’s Hall,’ which describes Israel’s actions in Gaza as ‘genocide,’ while video footage of Gaza devastation played on screen. The next night, he addressed Jewish audience members directly, saying criticism of Israel and opposition to genocide was not criticism of them.

Why venues rejected him

Messina Touring Group, the US tour promoter, said venues notified them they would not allow Macklemore to perform because his participation would result in tour cancellation and impact hundreds of thousands of fans. Robert Kraft said Macklemore’s participation would cross a line by providing a platform for hate speech, citing his broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and recent pro-Palestinian material. Kraft, 85 and Jewish, said his decision was not about denying Palestinians the right to advocacy but protecting the venue’s commitment to a welcoming environment.

Tour dates and venues affected

Macklemore was scheduled to open eight of the ten remaining US shows on the Loop Tour, which resumed September 19 in Philadelphia. Affected venues include Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, and stadiums in Charlotte and Dallas. The Israeli American Council had petitioned for his removal after his September 4 speech, arguing the concert was not the place for one-sided political activism.

Macklemore’s response

Macklemore confirmed his removal on Instagram September 14, stating he is not a victim and that Ed Sheeran and his team made the decision. He emphasized that the real victims are Palestinian people in Gaza who have been killed, starved, and displaced. Macklemore said he hopes to remain friends with Sheeran, though Sheeran told him he could not take sides in the conflict. Ed Sheeran has not publicly commented on the removal.

Final Thoughts

Macklemore’s removal marks a rare instance of multiple major venues coordinating to block a performer over political speech. The incident highlights the tension between artist expression and venue control over platform use, with no replacement opener yet announced.

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