Macklemore has been removed from the remaining dates of Ed Sheeran’s U.S. Loop Tour following a politically charged performance at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on September 4th. During his set, the Grammy-winning rapper made statements supporting Palestine and performed a song addressing the situation in Gaza, with accompanying imagery displayed on stadium screens. The decision to drop him came after venues threatened to cancel shows if he remained on the lineup.
Tour promoter Messina Touring Group announced the removal in a statement, citing concerns from upcoming venue operators. The rapper was scheduled to perform at eight of the ten remaining stadium shows across major cities including Philadelphia, Boston, Atlanta, and Indianapolis. Officials indicated that keeping Macklemore on the bill would have resulted in widespread tour cancellations affecting hundreds of thousands of fans.
The controversy intensified after a petition from the Israeli American Council called for Macklemore’s removal, arguing that a concert venue was inappropriate for advancing a one-sided political agenda. Public figures, including musician Pink, amplified calls for his dismissal through social media. Macklemore had stated his intention to use the tour platform to advocate for his political convictions, performing his song “Hind’s Hall,” which addresses pro-Palestine activism.
Originally reported by Variety →
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