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Macklemore has been removed from the remaining dates of Ed Sheeran’s U.S. stadium tour following his onstage statements supporting Palestinians. According to tour promoter Messina Touring Group, multiple venues notified the organization that they would not host concerts featuring the rapper on the bill. The decision affects eight of the ten remaining shows scheduled for the North American leg of Sheeran’s Loop Tour, which resumes this Friday in Philadelphia.
The rapper’s removal comes after he made pro-Palestine remarks during two performances at MetLife Stadium in New York earlier this month. During those shows, Macklemore vocalized support for Gaza residents and the occupied West Bank, displayed images of devastation in the region, and performed his protest song addressing pro-Palestine activism. His statements prompted criticism from pro-Israel advocacy groups, including StopAntisemitism and the Israeli American Council, which launched a petition requesting his removal from the tour.
Macklemore, who has advocated for Palestinian causes for several years, stated that expressing support for Palestinians does not constitute criticism of Jewish people. At his second MetLife performance, he addressed Jewish audience members directly, emphasizing that his message promotes peace and human dignity. The tour promoter indicated that removing Macklemore prevents the cancellation of upcoming shows that would have impacted hundreds of thousands of fans.
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Originally reported by Rollingstone →
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