Macklemore dropped from Ed Sheeran tour due to ‘free Palestine’ message

Macklemore dropped from Ed Sheeran tour due to 'free Palestine' message.

Key points

• The "Thrift Shop" rapper had been scheduled to appear at eight of the Loop Tour's 10 remaining concerts, according to the outlet.
• The decision follows Macklemore's performance during a Sheeran concert at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, on Sept.
• More: Macklemore notes Patriots' Robert Kraft banned him from stadium over Palestine stance.
• Macklemore delivered pro-Palestinian comments while opening for Ed Sheeran in New Jersey, drawing praise and criticism.
• Macklemore addressed his removal in a lengthy Instagram statement, confirming that Sheeran and his team had decided to drop him from the remaining Loop Tour dates.

Macklemore dropped from Ed Sheeran tour due to 'free Palestine' message. Sameen Chaudhry USA TODAY. Macklemore shares pro-Palestinian message on stage, drawing criticism.

Macklemore will no longer open for Ed Sheeran on the remaining dates of his U.S. Loop Tour after venues objected to the rapper's onstage remarks in backing of Palestinians and calls for a "free Palestine." The decision came after New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft resisted Macklemore performing at Gillette Stadium and other venues objected to the rapper remaining on the tour.

Messina Touring Group, the promoter behind the U.S. Leg of Sheeran's Loop Tour, confirmed Macklemore's departure in an exclusive statement to Rolling Stone⁠.

"We have been notified by venues on the upcoming U.S. Tour dates that they will not allow a concert to take place with Macklemore on the lineup, which would result in the cancellation of the tour and impact hundreds of thousands of fans, " the firm stated.

"After discussions with stakeholders, Macklemore will not be performing on the remaining support dates, " the statement continued. Why Macklemore was removed from Ed Sheeran's tour after Palestine remarks?

For context, the "Thrift Shop" rapper had been scheduled to appear at eight of the Loop Tour's 10 remaining concerts, according to the outlet. The tour is due to resume Sept. 19.

Macklemore faces call for removal from Ed Sheeran tour over pro-Palestine song.

In practice, the decision follows Macklemore's performance during a Sheeran concert at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, on Sept. 4. During his set, the Grammy-winning musician wore a kaffiyeh and performed his pro-Palestinian protest song "Hind's Hall." Macklemore informed the audience that one of the reasons he joined the tour was to advocate for a "free Palestine."

"A big part of the reason why I wanted to do this tour in the first place is so I could stand up in stadiums like this and say two words that are very near and dear to my heart: 'Free Palestine, '" the singer informed the crowd. "I said, 'Free Palestine!' I want those words to be loud and clear, so that people all the way in Gaza to the occupied West Bank know that we have not forgotten about them."

He reiterated his message regarding Palestine during his performance the after evening as well. What did Macklemore say regarding Palestine at Ed Sheeran's concert?

His comments were met with a divided response. While others criticized the political message and reportedly left the concert, some attendees praised the rapper for using his platform to advocate for Palestinians. The Israeli-American Council subsequently circulated a petition urging Sheeran and the tour's organizers to remove Macklemore from the remaining lineup. Macklemore responds to being removed from Ed Sheeran's tour.

Though "rooted in love and respect, " before the decision was produced, macklemore remarked he and Sheeran, whom he has known for 13 years, held a number of tough conversations. He shared that Sheeran informed him New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, whose Kraft Group owns Gillette Stadium, would not allow Macklemore to perform there and had assisted rally other stadium owners behind a similar position. Macklemore shared that "they gave him an ultimatum: if Macklemore stays on the tour, you will not be allowed to play in our venues."

According to Kraft afterwards, he was behind Macklemore's removal, saying in an official note that he was concerned Macklemore would spread "hate speech" and "antisemitic rhetoric and imagery." Why did Robert Kraft oppose Macklemore performing at Gillette Stadium?

"I agree with Macklemore, " Kraft expressed in an official note obtained by USA TODAY Sports. "Too many lives have been lost and there has been too much suffering, but only sharing selective information and ignoring the actions of Hamas is not honest and only advances more divisiveness and hate."

USA TODAY has reached out to a representative for Sheeran for comment.

"Nothing I'm writing here is out of spite or since I want to tear down his character. But as I informed Ed multiple times on the phone, our friendship can't change my responsibility to tell the truth concerning what happened, " Macklemore wrote in his statement.

"His typical apolitical stance was being challenged in a way it never had been before, " Macklemore continued. "He informed me that the words 'Free Palestine' and the image of the Palestinian flag were hurtful to a lot of residents he spoke with. I informed him that if those words were more offensive than tens of thousands of Palestinian children being killed by Israel, then there was a fundamental disconnect between where those residents stood and where I stood."

Despite their disagreement, Macklemore remarked he hoped to preserve his friendship with Sheeran. He concluded that he did not need all 10 scheduled appearances, writing that the two MetLife Stadium concerts offered him the opportunity to deliver his message to 90, 000 residents.

"Free Palestine. While turning the conversation back to Palestine, then it was the most successful tour I've ever been on, " he wrote to end his statement, but if those words cost me the stage. Why did Pink criticize Macklemore?

Pink additionally entered the debate after resharing a post from the advocacy group StopAntisemitism that criticized Macklemore's MetLife Stadium appearance. The post pressed an apology and called on organizers to remove him from Sheeran's tour, according to Rolling Stone.

After receiving backlash, Pink published a lengthy statement on Instagram addressing the online dialogue. Pink shares 'stupid' reason she hasn't done Broadway yet.

"Last Sunday I reposted somebody else's post regarding Macklemore's set at Ed Sheeran's show. It remarked things in words I didn't write, and I wouldn't have chosen all of them. Then the comments came, and I did what I do when I'm hurt. It is post snarky memes and act like I'm fine. That's on me, " the singer wrote.

For context, the singer, who is Jewish, clarified that her objection was not to the phrase "Free Palestine" or Macklemore's right to express his beliefs. She remarked she was reacting to the imagery and rhetoric employed during his performance and how they affected some Jewish concertgoers.

Pink additionally stated she was not asking for Macklemore to be silenced or fired. In outlining her position, she condemned Hamas while asserting that Palestinians deserve a future that respects their humanity and aspirations.

"I have never asked for another artist to be silenced and I'm not asking now, " Pink remarked. Contributing: Nate Davis, USA TODAY. Share your feedback to support improve our site!

For now, macklemore dropped from Ed Sheeran tour due to free Palestine message remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.