Rapper Macklemore was removed from Ed Sheeran's US tour after speaking out in support of Palestine during a performance earlier this month. The incident occurred during two shows at MetLife Stadium outside New York City in early September. The shows were held on September 4 and 5 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Macklemore said on stage that his reason for joining the tour was to express support for Palestinian people and criticize actions by Israel. He said he wanted people in Gaza and the occupied West Bank to know they had not been forgotten. He then performed his 2024 protest song Hind's Hall as images from Gaza and pro-Palestinian demonstrations appeared on stadium screens. Macklemore previously pledged that proceeds from Hind's Hall would go to UNRWA USA, which supports aid for Palestinian refugees.
His comments sparked backlash from fans and organizations who felt the remarks were antisemitic, according to the BBC. The campaign group StopAntisemitism criticized the situation, saying Jewish fans had bought tickets to see Ed Sheeran perform. Macklemore returned to the same stage the next night and addressed Jewish audience members directly. He defended his position by saying that criticizing Israel or supporting Palestinian rights should not be confused with antisemitism, according to a report from Rolling Stone. Macklemore stated that the word antisemitism is real and should not be used to silence criticism of Israeli policies. He added that conflating support for Palestine with hatred toward Jewish people does not protect Jewish communities. Israel rejects allegations that its military campaign in Gaza amounts to genocide.
The removal from the tour was reportedly linked to pressure from Robert Kraft, who is Jewish and a strong supporter of Israel. Kraft has donated millions of dollars to Jewish causes over the years. His statement also appeared to reference a 2014 incident where Macklemore was accused of dressing as an antisemitic caricature. Kraft later said that too many lives had been lost in the conflict and that sharing only part of the story made things worse. Kraft also mentioned his long-standing support for Palestinians through donations and by creating athletic and entrepreneurial opportunities for them. Macklemore said Sheeran told him that Kraft had barred him from Gillette Stadium and rallied other stadium owners. Kraft later confirmed that Macklemore would not be allowed to perform at Gillette Stadium.
A petition by the Israeli-American Council asked Sheeran to remove Macklemore from the tour. Macklemore shared that he had lost many things due to his stance, including sponsorships and access to events. Messina Touring Group, the promoter of the U.S. leg of the Loop Tour, said upcoming venues would not allow concerts to take place with Macklemore on the lineup. The promoter said keeping him on the bill could have caused tour dates to be canceled and affected hundreds of thousands of fans. Macklemore had been scheduled to support Sheeran at eight of the 10 remaining stadium shows, according to Reuters. The tour is scheduled to resume September 19 in Philadelphia without Macklemore.
Pink also pointed out that in 2014, Macklemore performed the LGBTQ+ anthem Same Love at the Grammys. During that same performance, a mass wedding ceremony took place with 33 couples, including same-sex and opposite-sex couples, getting married on stage. Macklemore apologized later in 2014 for a stage costume that critics said resembled an antisemitic Jewish caricature and said that was not his intention.
Macklemore later issued a lengthy statement about his removal from the tour and said he stood by his pro-Palestinian message. Ed Sheeran and Macklemore have been friends for over a decade. Macklemore said Monday that he has known Sheeran for 13 years and still considers him a friend despite their disagreement. Sheeran had not publicly commented on Macklemore's removal as of Monday. The controversy has drawn attention to the ongoing debate about how to discuss Israel and Palestine in public spaces.