Macklemore Dropped From Ed Sheeran Tour Over Pro-Palestine Stance, Lawmakers Rally Behind Him
Macklemore was removed from the remaining U.S. dates of Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour after venue owners objected to his pro-Palestine statements and performance of an anti-Israel song. Liberal lawmakers and activists, including Rep. Pramila Jayapal and Rep. Ro Khanna, have rallied behind the rapper, while the promoter cited venue decisions and a stadium operator cited concerns over hate speech.
Rapper Macklemore has been removed from the remaining U.S. dates of Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour after repeatedly calling for a «Free Palestine» and performing his anti-Israel song «Hind's Hall» while opening for Sheeran. The decision, announced Monday by promoter Messina Touring Group, has sparked a wave of support for Macklemore from liberal lawmakers, commentators, and activists who argue he is being punished for speaking out against the suffering of Palestinians.
In a statement to Rolling Stone, Messina Touring Group said venues on the upcoming U.S. tour dates notified the promoter that they would not allow a concert to take place with Macklemore on the lineup, which would have resulted in the cancellation of the tour and impacted hundreds of thousands of fans. «After discussions with stakeholders, Macklemore will not be performing on the remaining support dates,» the promoter said. Macklemore was slated to appear at eight of the 10 shows left on the U.S. leg of Sheeran's tour.
Macklemore said in his own announcement that Ed Sheeran and his team «removed» him from the tour after New England Patriots owner and Gillette Stadium operator Robert Kraft told Sheeran that the rapper would not be allowed to perform at the stadium. «Ed told me that Kraft said I would not be allowed to perform in his stadium,» Macklemore wrote. «Ed also told me that Kraft had rallied some of the other stadium owners and collectively they gave him an ultimatum: if Macklemore stays on the tour, you will not be allowed to play in our venues.»
Kraft confirmed his opposition to Macklemore performing at Gillette Stadium in a statement to TMZ, saying the venue has a «longstanding commitment to providing a welcoming environment for all guests and ensuring that events held at our venue do not provide a platform for hate speech.» He added that based on Macklemore's recent actions, material shared from the stage during Sheeran's shows in New Jersey, and a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery that he said has been deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community, the rapper's participation in the September 25 and 26 concerts at Gillette Stadium would cross that line. Kraft concluded that the decision is not about diminishing the suffering of innocent Palestinians or denying anyone the right to advocate on their behalf.
Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., whose district includes Macklemore, wrote on X that it is «so incredibly disappointing» that the rapper was removed from the tour because of his comments in support of the Palestinian people. «We should all be outraged that powerful people are more upset about what an artist says than the displacement, starvation, and killing of innocent Palestinian children and families,» she wrote. «Thank you, Macklemore, for speaking up. This is a moment for us to come together, find our moral conscience as a nation, and end this genocide.»
Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., also expressed support on X, writing, «Admire your courage, Macklemore!» Children's YouTuber Ms. Rachel criticized Sheeran specifically in comments on Instagram, saying he had an opportunity to show that people will not be bullied into punishing those who support Palestine. «Instead he caved to people who refuse to accept what the world knows. A genocide is happening in Gaza. We all need to speak out against it,» her post read. Rosie O'Donnell, a former co-host of «The View» who moved to Ireland after President Donald Trump was elected in 2024, posted in support of Macklemore on Instagram, writing, «Wow — sad — I stand with him in solidarity #GENOCIDE.» She also shared several Instagram stories referencing a boycott. The pop band MUNA posted to its Instagram story, writing, «Everyone involved in the move to silence free speech about a genocide is utterly pathetic. Solidarity with @macklemore.»
Not everyone has rallied behind the rapper. Christian Toto, host of the «Hollywood in Toto Podcast,» told Fox News Digital that the lawmakers supporting Macklemore were suspiciously silent during other recent celebrity controversies. «These same lawmakers were silent when Gina Carano was cancelled and her career was destroyed by Disney for an innocuous post about tolerance,» Toto said. «They also said nothing when British singer M.I.A. got booted from Kid Cudi's tour earlier this year for sharing right-leaning views.» He added that the free speech argument is trickier in this case because an opening musical act should not dramatically differ from the headliner, and suggested the situation could have been resolved by setting boundaries for the opening act's political statements. Sheeran's team did not immediately return a request for comment, and Fox News Digital also reached out to a Kraft representative.
