Macklemore removed from Ed Sheeran's US tour over pro-Palestinian statements

American rapper Macklemore announced Monday that he is no longer part of Ed Sheeran's US stadium tour following pro-Palestinian remarks he made during a September 4 concert at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Writing on Instagram, he said he and Sheeran had "difficult conversations" over the past week.

Messina Touring Group, which promotes the US leg of Sheeran's tour, told Rolling Stone that owners of upcoming venues had warned they would not permit shows featuring Macklemore. The promoter confirmed that after talks with stakeholders, the rapper would not perform on the remaining tour dates. Sheeran has not yet commented publicly.

Macklemore has for years expressed support for Palestinians and criticized Israel's military campaign in Gaza and its occupation of the West Bank. In 2024, he released the song "Hind's Hall," dedicated to five-year-old Palestinian girl Hind Rajab, who was killed by Israeli forces in Gaza. Israel's military said last month it had opened a criminal investigation into the killing, though rights groups note such probes seldom result in convictions.

Macklemore had been scheduled to open eight of Sheeran's ten remaining shows, which resume September 19 in Philadelphia. The Israeli-American Council launched a petition calling on Sheeran to remove him from the lineup. According to Macklemore, New England Patriots owner and billionaire Robert Kraft pressured several venue owners to refuse shows if the rapper remained on the tour. Kraft said in a statement that he devotes much of his time to combating hate and antisemitism and felt a responsibility to act when he believed a line had been crossed. Macklemore denies being antisemitic, arguing that equating criticism of Israel's actions with antisemitism serves to shield Israel from accountability.