Ed Sheeran spoke directly about Macklemore being removed from his tour due to the rapper’s on-stage support for Palestine. During the Loop Tour at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, USA, on Saturday (19/9), Sheeran said that recent events had made this one of the toughest weeks of his life.
“I never intended to be a musical activist, but this situation has placed me in the middle of an important and passionate debate about freedom of speech and the world’s most complex political issues,” Sheeran said, according to BBC.
The “Perfect” singer said that the decision to stop involving Macklemore was made by the promoter, not by him. Sheeran told the audience that while he was used to criticism about his music, this time the criticism was about something he considered far more important. He had to make difficult decisions.
“This week, the criticism was about something far more important; I had to make difficult decisions, and I made mistakes, and I truly, truly apologise,” he added.
Throughout my career, I have tried not to become a political commentator in any form, because I want my music and performances to be a unifying force, not a divisive one,” he continued. “But this is a humanitarian issue, and I can no longer hide my feelings about it.
According to BBC, Sheeran said that the events in Israel on October 7 were “horrific and exacerbated the suffering of the Jewish people that has lasted for centuries”, while the situation in Gaza “has devastating, unjustifiable, and disproportionate effects”.
My heart is broken seeing the massive destruction and loss of civilian lives—including children—and the systemic injustice that is happening in the West Bank must not be ignored,” he said.
Sheeran said he was looking for ways to contribute to helping the victims in these dark times while continuing to listen and learn, because his knowledge was still limited.
In addition, Sheeran revealed that he had wondered whether his tour would continue and whether he even wanted to be a musician anymore. He also described how old friends and family members “distanted” as the controversy grew hotter. He said he felt that people he knew had abandoned him.
“In a situation like this, you really know who your true friends are. This is a strange week,” added the British singer.
The Loop Tour is planned to take place across North and South America. Although Ed Sheeran’s previous tour was recorded as one of the highest-grossing tours of all time, ticket prices for this show have dropped to as low as 32 USD (around Rp571 thousand). Some fans claimed to have received ticket refunds, although Ticketmaster and the concert promoter Messina Touring Group have not officially confirmed any refund.
Meanwhile, several protesters waved flags outside the venue, but the concert continued without significant disruption. A protester who gave his name as Cooper said he was there “to support the struggle” of the Palestinian people.
“We need more people like Macklemore and other artists who have a voice and a platform to speak publicly, so they can voice the aspirations of the Palestinian people and their struggle for liberation, especially in the United States,” he said.
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<h2 class="fw-bold fs-5">Chronology of Rapper Macklemore's Removal from Ed Sheeran's Tour Over Pro-Palestine Advocacy</h2>
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<img src="https://akcdn.detik.net.id/visual/2026/09/15/macklemore-1789441649171.jpeg?w=700&q=90" alt="Macklemore" title="Macklemore"/>
<p>Macklemore/Photo: Instagram/macklemore</p>
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<p>Rapper Macklemore was removed from Ed Sheeran's U.S. tour lineup after voicing support for Palestine. In an Instagram post, Macklemore said he was cut from the tour following pressure from Robert Kraft, a billionaire owner of the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium, who asked Sheeran to drop him.</p>
Previously, Macklemore had served as the opening act for Sheeran’s “Loop” tour, performing twice at MetLife Stadium on September 4 and 5. During the first show, the rapper—born Benjamin Haggerty—shouted “Free Palestine” on stage and expressed solidarity with Gaza residents.
He also displayed images of the devastation in Gaza and performed his song “Hind’s Hall,” which tells the story of pro-Palestine demonstrators at Columbia University who occupied a building and named it in honor of Hind Rajab, a six-year-old girl killed by Israeli military action.
“One of the main reasons I wanted to do this tour from the start was so I could stand in a stadium like this and say two words that are very meaningful to me: ‘Free Palestine’,” he said during the first MetLife performance, according to Rolling Stone.
“I said, ‘Free Palestine!’ I want those words to be heard loud and clear, so that people—from Gaza to the occupied West Bank—know we haven’t forgotten them,” he added.
During the second MetLife show, Macklemore again chanted “Free Palestine,” emphasizing peace and calling for all humanity to be treated with dignity, respect, and equality.
In an exclusive statement to Rolling Stone, Messina Touring Group, the promoter of Ed Sheeran’s “Loop Tour” in the United States, said they had received notice from venue management for upcoming tour dates that they would not allow the concert to proceed if Macklemore remained on the lineup.
“This would result in the cancellation of the tour and affect hundreds of thousands of fans. After consulting with stakeholders, it was decided that Macklemore would not perform in the remaining supporting slots,” they said.
Macklemore explained what happened in a lengthy Instagram post. He said that after a week of “difficult conversations” with Sheeran, they ended up at an impasse that led to his removal from the tour lineup.
Macklemore claimed he was cut from the tour after Robert Kraft, the billionaire owner of the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium, pressured Sheeran.
“Ed told me that Kraft said I wasn’t allowed to perform at his stadium,” Macklemore wrote on his Instagram account @macklemore on Tuesday (15/9).
“Ed also said that Kraft had gathered support from other stadium owners and collectively they gave him an ultimatum: if Macklemore stayed on the tour, you [Ed Sheeran] would not be allowed to perform at our venues,” Macklemore continued.
Macklemore was scheduled to perform in eight of the ten remaining shows of Sheeran’s U.S. tour, which resumes on Friday, September 19, 2026, in Philadelphia. Venues reportedly reluctant to host the rapper include: Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia; Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts; Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta; Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis; Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina; AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas; and Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.
Further, in his statement, Macklemore said he understood the difficult position Sheeran faced, but criticized the singer for not taking a stronger stance.
“Taking a stand can come at a price. Money, brand deals, sponsorships, festivals, private performances, relationships, and access. I have lost all of that. However, there is no neutral ground between the oppressor and the oppressed,” he wrote.
“He [Ed Sheeran] told me that the phrase ‘Free Palestine’ and images of the Palestinian flag were considered hurtful by many people who spoke with him. I told him that if those words were considered more offensive than the killing of tens of thousands of Palestinian children by Israel, then there is a fundamental difference in principle between those people’s views and mine. However, he couldn’t break away from his public stance of ‘I don’t take sides’,” Macklemore added.
Macklemore emphasized that although he only performed in two shows during the tour, if his words succeeded in refocusing public conversation on the Palestinian issue, then it was the most successful tour he had ever done.
Macklemore Donates Rp17.7 Billion from Ed Sheeran Tour Earnings to Palestine
After announcing his removal from Ed Sheeran’s tour, Macklemore said he would donate his earnings from the Ed Sheeran tour, amounting to 1 million USD (around Rp17.7 billion), to various Palestinian humanitarian organizations. In addition, Macklemore challenged Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium, to make a donation of the same amount.
“Amidst all the events of the last 48 hours, I want to refocus the conversation on what’s most important: the Palestinian people who continue to be killed, live under military occupation, and continue to fight for their freedom,” the Grammy-winning artist wrote on Instagram on Thursday (16/9).
“I will donate the entire net income of $1 million that I earned from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour to six organizations that work directly to support the Palestinian people. I also invite Robert Kraft to make a donation of the same amount,” Macklemore continued.
“Regardless of the differences between us, perhaps we can agree on one thing: the lives of Palestinian people are worth protecting. A Palestinian life is no less valuable than any other life on earth,” he asserted.
Four Musicians Quit Ed Sheeran’s Concerts in Solidarity with Macklemore
Ed Sheeran/Photo: Instagram.com/teddysphotos
Four supporting acts for Ed Sheeran’s ‘Loop’ tour have withdrawn, Thecuy. The decision was made as a show of solidarity with fellow opening act Macklemore.
The four musicians are Finneas, Aaron Rowe, Beoga, and Lukas Graham. All four expressed support for Macklemore and Palestine. According to Billboard, there are currently no supporting acts for Ed Sheeran’s tour.
Ed Sheeran Speaks Out
Ed Sheeran has spoken out about Macklemore’s removal from the opening act lineup of his tour. Through his Instagram account, @teddysphotos, Sheeran shared a statement in point format on Tuesday (15/9). Sheeran began his statement by saying he was “deeply concerned about the conflict between Israel and Palestine”.
“I am deeply concerned about the conflict between Israel and Palestine. The suffering and pain experienced by both sides is a humanitarian tragedy. There are too many wars around the world causing untold suffering, and none of them can be tolerated,” Sheeran wrote, opening his statement.
Sheeran then said that Macklemore had asked to join his tour last year and he agreed because he respected him as an artist. As with all other supporting acts, Sheeran allowed them to perform their own choice of songs.
“After Macklemore’s performance at my concert in New Jersey, the organizers of my next tour venue said they would cancel the show if he remained a supporting act,” he continued. “I was told that this stance was based on how Macklemore conveyed some of his messages while performing, not on the overall content of his words.”
Sheeran continued by saying that he had spent the past week communicating with venue officials and “activists from both sides” in an effort to bring all parties together.
“The venue and promoter’s decision is final,” the four-time Grammy winner wrote. “I have spent this week trying to bridge differences and find solutions, but unfortunately, I was not successful.”
“The decision to remove Macklemore from the tour was made by the promoter, not by me. Macklemore’s tour contract was made with the promoter, not with me,” Sheeran added.
Furthermore, Sheeran said he was not involved in this matter. He also emphasized that he had reasons for not using his professional platform to speak about politics. He said his audience includes young people, even children, from various backgrounds.
“I am not involved in this. I have personal views about this devastating conflict. Just because I choose not to speak publicly, it does not mean I don’t have them, or that I don’t care. It also does not mean I do not support various struggles in my own personal way.
There are reasons why I do not use my professional platform for politics—my audience includes young people, even children, from various backgrounds. Those who come to my shows do not expect a political forum.
I appreciate Macklemore’s determination to speak out for what he believes in. However, there is room for different approaches to achieve the same goal: peace. I choose to use my fame and platform as a safe and protective space to maintain diplomacy and keep conversations open, not closed. If we only focus on speaking the loudest, no change will happen. There are many ways to be a catalyst for change,” Sheeran wrote.
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