Macklemore Dropped From Ed Sheeran's US Tour After Political Backlash
Rapper Macklemore has been removed from Ed Sheeran's US stadium tour after multiple venues threatened cancellations over his anti-Israel political remarks during previous performances.
Rapper Macklemore will no longer serve as the opening act for Ed Sheeran’s stadium tour in the United States, following widespread backlash and threats of venue cancellations over his political remarks regarding the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. According to Rolling Stone, several major American stadiums informed organizers they would refuse to host the concerts if the rapper remained on the bill.
The decision comes in the wake of Macklemore's performances during Sheeran's tour stops at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey earlier this month, where he wore a keffiyeh, chanted "Free Palestine," and accused Israel of genocide. His performance sparked intense public debate and drew sharp criticism from prominent figures, including American pop star Pink, who shared a video of the set with her 12 million Instagram followers, condemning the politicization of a mainstream concert.
Promoters Messina Touring Group stated that keeping Macklemore on the lineup would have jeopardized the entire tour, risking cancellations that would impact hundreds of thousands of fans. Following discussions with all involved parties, it was decided that Macklemore would be removed from the remaining dates of the US tour.
Among the venues that reportedly objected to his participation are Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts, Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, AT&T Stadium in Texas, and Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. Sheeran's tour is set to resume in Philadelphia.
The controversy also deeply affected Israeli fans traveling abroad for the concerts. Michaela, an Israeli fan who flew to the US specifically for the show, shared her discomfort with local media, noting that she and other attendees felt threatened and chose to leave the venue during Macklemore's set, missing the main performance entirely due to the overtly political atmosphere.
