Ed Sheeran has broken his silence over Macklemore’s removal from his U.S. tour following the rapper’s pro-Palestinian remarks, saying the decision was made by promoters and venues rather than him.
Macklemore was due to support Sheeran on eight remaining dates of his Loop Tour but was dropped after several venues said they would not host concerts with him on the lineup, according to promoter Messina Touring Group.
The dispute followed Macklemore’s 4 September performance at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where he told the crowd that part of his reason for joining the tour was to say “Free Palestine” in U.S. stadiums and express solidarity with people in Gaza and the West Bank.
In an Instagram statement on Tuesday, Sheeran said he was “appalled” by the Israel-Palestine conflict and described the suffering on both sides as a human tragedy.
He said venues informed organisers they would refuse to host the tour if Macklemore remained an opening act, adding that he tried to facilitate discussions between venue owners, promoters and activists but was unable to reach a solution.
“Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter’s decision, it was not mine,” Sheeran said, adding that cancelling shows would have affected fans, crew and other performers.
Macklemore had said a day earlier that New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, whose group owns Gillette Stadium, had rallied other stadium owners against his participation. Kraft said his objection was based on what he described as a broader history of rhetoric and imagery offensive to the Jewish community. Macklemore has rejected accusations of antisemitism.
Sheeran also defended his decision not to make his concerts a platform for his personal political views.
“I am not complicit,” he wrote, saying that choosing not to speak publicly did not mean he did not care about the conflict.
The controversy widened hours later when Irish musician Aaron Rowe, scheduled to open Sheeran’s remaining 10 U.S. shows, announced he was withdrawing from the tour in solidarity with Palestinians.
The fallout widened following Sheeran’s statement, with several artists announcing they would no longer perform on his Loop Tour in solidarity with Macklemore and Palestinians.
Irish singer Aaron Rowe withdrew from the remaining U.S. dates, saying he could not continue while artists speaking out over Gaza were being silenced. Irish band Beoga, which has performed and toured with Sheeran for years, also pulled out, saying its members remained committed to advocating for Palestinian rights.
Finneas, who had been scheduled to support Sheeran on six South American dates later this year, also withdrew, saying: “Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed. I stand with Palestine and its people.”
Danish band Lukas Graham subsequently announced it was leaving the tour, saying artists should be able to speak about war and civilians being killed and that it could not “carry on with this tour as things stand”.
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