International pop star Ed Sheeran has removed American rapper Macklemore from his U.S. Loop Tour following intense controversy over the artist’s public support for Palestine during stadium performances, a decision that has ignited fierce debate and triggered a wave of solidarity withdrawals from other performers.
Messina Touring Group, the promoter handling Sheeran’s American dates, confirmed Monday that Macklemore would no longer appear as an opening act on the remaining tour stops. According to the promoter’s statement, multiple venues hosting upcoming concerts indicated they would not permit shows to proceed with Macklemore on the bill, creating a situation where keeping him could have forced cancellations affecting hundreds of thousands of ticket holders.
The controversy erupted less than two weeks after Macklemore performed at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where he openly told the crowd that part of his motivation for joining the tour was to leverage the massive stadium platform to declare “Free Palestine.” The rapper, who has championed Palestinian causes for years, also performed his 2024 protest song “Hind’s Hall” addressing the Gaza conflict during his opening set.
Macklemore later revealed on social media that Sheeran and his team removed him after the Kraft Group, which owns several major venues, rallied stadium owners and issued an ultimatum. The rapper stated that even the words “Free Palestine” and images of the Palestinian flag had become unacceptable.
The fallout intensified when an Israeli-American Council petition demanded Macklemore’s removal, and singer Pink drew criticism after appearing to support the decision on social media. Macklemore responded by emphasizing that criticizing Israeli government actions and opposing violence should not be conflated with antisemitism, arguing that advocating equal treatment for all people should never be controversial.
In a dramatic show of support, multiple artists scheduled to perform with Sheeran subsequently withdrew from the tour. Irish singer Aaron Rowe, American singer-songwriter Finneas, Irish band Beoga, and Danish pop group Lukas Graham all announced they would pull out in solidarity with Macklemore.
Sheeran defended his decision in an Instagram statement on September 15, claiming venue owners left him with no choice. However, the explanation failed to quell the backlash, with critics accusing the British star of prioritizing commercial interests over artistic freedom and human rights advocacy.
Amid the chaos, false claims circulated widely on social media suggesting Sheeran performed an entire solo concert after his band and opening acts abandoned him. Fact-checkers traced the viral footage to a December 2022 performance at Wembley Stadium, debunking the narrative that Sheeran had recently performed alone due to the controversy.
The next scheduled U.S. Loop Tour date is set for September 19 in Philadelphia, with Lukas Graham and Aaron Rowe originally listed as opening acts before their withdrawal. Sheeran’s American tour is scheduled to continue through November 7, though the lineup now remains uncertain as the controversy shows no signs of abating.
The incident has reignited broader debates about artistic expression, political speech in entertainment venues, and the consequences faced by public figures who speak out on contentious geopolitical issues.
