Macklemore has been dropped as the opening act for the remaining US dates of Ed Sheeran's tour after comments he made in support of Palestinians sparked backlash from pro-Israel groups and pressure from stadium owners hosting upcoming shows.
What Sparked It
During his opening set at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey earlier this month, Macklemore told the crowd that part of his reason for joining the tour was to use the platform of stadium shows to voice support for Palestinians, invoking the phrase 'Free Palestine.' He also performed his 2024 protest song addressing the war in Gaza, a track he has been vocal about for the past two years.
The Fallout
According to Macklemore, Kraft Group owner Robert Kraft rallied a group of stadium owners hosting the tour's remaining stops to pressure Sheeran, warning that venues would not host the shows if Macklemore stayed on the bill. The tour's promoter later confirmed Macklemore was being removed from the lineup, saying keeping him on could have led to cancellations affecting hundreds of thousands of ticket holders. Pro-Israel advocacy groups, including the Israeli-American Council, had petitioned for his removal, while singer Pink also publicly voiced support for the decision.
Macklemore's Response
Macklemore said the decision put a strain on Sheeran's usual effort to stay out of political controversies, but stressed the situation would not affect their friendship or change his continued activism on the issue. He indicated he had spent much of the past week in conversation with Sheeran about the mounting pressure before the removal was finalized.
Why It's Resonating
The episode has reignited a broader debate over how much political expression is acceptable on major commercial concert stages, and how much power stadium owners and promoters hold over what artists say from the microphone. With the war in Gaza remaining a deeply polarizing issue in the US, the fallout from Macklemore's removal is likely to keep following both artists for the rest of the tour.