American rapper Macklemore has been dropped from the remaining U.S. dates of Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour following controversy over his pro-Palestinian statements during a stadium performance in New Jersey. The Grammy-winning rapper, best known for global hits including Thrift Shop and Can’t Hold Us, confirmed his removal on September 14, saying that he and Sheeran had held “some difficult conversations” in the days leading up to the decision.
The controversy began after Macklemore performed at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on September 4. Addressing thousands of concertgoers, he declared “Free Palestine” and said that one reason he wanted to participate in the stadium tour was to use the platform to draw attention to Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.
He also performed Hind’s Hall, his 2024 protest song supporting the Palestinian cause. The performance quickly attracted both support and criticism, turning what had been a major supporting slot on one of the year’s biggest concert tours into a wider debate over politics, music, free expression and antisemitism.
Why Was Macklemore Removed?
Messina Touring Group, promoter of the U.S. leg of Sheeran’s tour, said it had been informed by venues hosting upcoming concerts that they would not allow shows to proceed with Macklemore on the lineup. According to the promoter, keeping him on the bill could therefore have resulted in the cancellation of concerts affecting hundreds of thousands of fans.
Following discussions with stakeholders, the decision was made that Macklemore would no longer perform on the remaining dates. The rapper had been scheduled to support Sheeran at eight of the final 10 shows of the U.S. stadium tour, which is due to resume in Philadelphia on September 19. The Israeli-American Council had also launched a petition calling for Macklemore to be removed, arguing that his performance introduced divisive political messaging into Sheeran’s concerts.
Macklemore, however, has defended his position. The rapper has repeatedly said that his criticism is directed at the actions and policies of the Israeli government rather than Jewish people. During his MetLife appearance, he specifically addressed Jewish listeners and said his message was about peace, dignity and equal treatment for human beings.
Macklemore has been one of the music industry’s most outspoken celebrity supporters of the Palestinian cause since the Gaza war began following the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel. In 2024, he released Hind’s Hall, named after a Columbia University building occupied and renamed by pro-Palestinian student protesters in honour of Hind Rajab, a Palestinian child killed in Gaza.
Macklemore Points to Pressure From Stadium Owners
In his statement, Macklemore alleged that billionaire Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium, played a role in opposition to his continued participation. According to Macklemore, Sheeran told him that Kraft would not permit him to perform at Gillette Stadium and that other stadium owners had taken similar positions.
Kraft, who has been heavily involved in campaigns against antisemitism, responded through a statement to U.S. media saying he had a responsibility to speak up when he believed a line had been crossed. The controversy placed Sheeran in a difficult position between his supporting artist, venue operators and concert audiences.
Macklemore described Sheeran as a friend he has known for 13 years and said he hoped the disagreement would not end their relationship. Sheeran himself had not publicly issued a detailed response to the controversy as of September 15. For Macklemore, however, losing the tour has not changed his position. He said he was unwilling to remain politically neutral simply to protect his career, financial interests or commercial opportunities.
Politics and Pop Music Collide Again
The dispute highlights a wider debate over whether major concerts should remain politically neutral, and whether artists should face professional consequences for using their platforms to address wars and international conflicts. Supporters of Macklemore argue that musicians have historically used art to protest injustice, war and government policy and should be free to express political views.
Critics argue that his performances have crossed the line between political advocacy and rhetoric that can make Jewish audiences feel targeted or unwelcome. Macklemore strongly rejects accusations that his support for Palestinians is antisemitic. The controversy is unlikely to end with his removal. Instead, it has given his political message an even larger audience than the concerts themselves.
Macklemore acknowledged that losing the opportunity to perform in packed American stadiums was significant. But he argued that if being removed from the tour brought renewed attention to Palestinians, then the controversy had still achieved what he wanted from the platform.
Sheeran’s Loop Tour will now continue without him. And what began with two words spoken from a stadium stage, “Free Palestine”, has become one of the music industry’s biggest debates over where artistic expression ends and political consequences begin.
