Ed Sheeran’s American tour has faced a significant disruption this week after the removal of rapper Macklemore prompted a wave of solidarity walkouts from other opening acts. On Tuesday, producer Finneas, Irish singer-songwriter Aaron Rowe, the Irish band Beoga, and Danish group Lukas Graham all announced their withdrawal from the tour to protest the decision to drop the rapper, citing their support for both Macklemore and the Palestinian cause.
The controversy centers on Macklemore’s recent performances in New Jersey, where he publicly advocated for Palestinian rights. During his set, the musician wore a keffiyeh and told the crowd that a primary motivation for joining the tour was to express support for a “Free Palestine.” Macklemore has been a vocal activist since the start of the conflict in Gaza following the October 7 attacks, even releasing a track titled “Hind’s Hall,” named after a building occupied by student protesters in honor of Hind Rajab, a five-year-old Palestinian girl killed by Israeli forces.
Robert Kraft, the billionaire owner of the New England Patriots, confirmed that he took steps to block Macklemore from appearing at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts. In a formal statement, Kraft cited “Macklemore’s recent actions,” onstage comments in New Jersey, and a “broader history of antisemitic rhetoric” as reasons for the exclusion. Kraft specifically referenced a 2014 incident in which Macklemore wore a wig, fake beard, and a hooked nose—an outfit the rapper previously described as a “random costume” but which critics widely identified as an antisemitic caricature.
Macklemore has pushed back against these claims, alleging that Kraft organized other stadium owners to issue an ultimatum to Ed Sheeran: either remove Macklemore or face the cancellation of the performances. Macklemore argued there is a “fundamental disconnect” in prioritizing the offense caused by his words over the loss of tens of thousands of lives in Gaza. He has stated that his criticisms of Israel’s actions are not reflections of bias against his Jewish fans.
Ed Sheeran, one of the most prominent touring artists globally, has distanced himself from the decision, insisting it was forced upon him by concert promoters. In an Instagram post on Tuesday, Sheeran stated he was “not complicit” in the removal and defended his choice to remain publicly silent on the conflict, noting that personal views do not equate to a lack of empathy. Sheeran’s promoter did not provide comments when contacted regarding the ultimatum claims.
The fallout has sparked a broader debate regarding artistic expression and the influence of private venue owners. Lee Rowland, executive director of the National Coalition Against Censorship, noted that while private stadium owners like Kraft possess the legal right to control who performs at their venues, such actions highlight how financial power impacts public discourse. Rowland warned that the incident could lead to widespread self-censorship, as artists may feel pressured to sanitize their performances to avoid upsetting stakeholders.
While the tour was scheduled for seven additional US dates, uncertainty remains for several venues. Some sites are publicly owned, such as AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, which is managed by the city and is set to host artists like Ye, who has previously faced backlash for antisemitic comments. As of now, the remaining venues have not publicly commented on whether they will allow Macklemore to perform. The report also notes that “Based on Macklemore’s recent actions, material shared from the stage during Ed Sheeran’s shows in New Jersey, and a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery that we believe has been deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community, we determined that his participation in the September 25th and 26th concerts at Gillette Stadium would cross that line,” Kraft said in a statement. The report also notes that kraft did not respond to a question about whether he was referring to that incident or to something else when he accused Macklemore of past antisemitism. The report also notes that macklemore, a rapper best known for 2012’s “Thrift Shop,” has publicly advocated for Palestinian rights since Israel began its years-long bombing campaign in Gaza after the October 7 attacks. The report also notes that “A big part of the reason why I wanted to do this tour in the first place, was so I could stand up in stadiums like this and say two words that are very near and dear to my heart: Free Palestine,” he said, according to video of the event. The report also notes that criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide in no way is a criticism of you.”, he added that “to all of my Jewish brothers and sisters. The report also notes that macklemore has regularly performed at pro-Palestinian rallies since 2023. The report also notes that in 2024, he released “Hind’s Hall,” named after the building taken over by Columbia student protesters, who renamed it in honor of Hind Rajab, a 5-year-old Palestinian girl killed by Israeli soldiers in Gaza.
