Macklemore Removed from Ed Sheeran's U.S. Tour Due to Gaza Comments

NEW YORK — Macklemore has been removed from Ed Sheeran’s stadium tour after several venues allegedly told the shows’ promoter that they would not allow the rapper to perform.

The news came after Macklemore called for a “free Palestine” as he made several onstage statements in support of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.

In a statement shared with media, Messina Touring Group, promoter of the U.S. leg of Sheeran’s Loop Tour, said: “As the concert promoter for Ed Sheeran’s U.S. Loop Tour, we have been notified by venues on the upcoming U.S. tour dates that they will not allow a concert to take place with Macklemore on the lineup, which would result in the cancellation of the tour and impact hundreds of thousands of fans. After discussions with stakeholders, Macklemore will not be performing on the remaining support dates.”

Macklemore had been scheduled to appear at eight of the 10 shows left on the U.S. leg of Sheeran’s tour, which is set to resume Friday, Sept. 19, in Philadelphia. The venues that allegedly objected to 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.

In an Instagram posting, Monday, Macklemore said Robert Kraft, the billionaire owner of Gillette Stadium and the New England Patriots was responsible for his firing.

“Ed told me that Kraft said I would not be allowed to perform in his stadium,” Macklemore wrote. “Ed also told me that Kraft had rallied some of the other stadium owners and collectively they gave him an ultimatum: if Macklemore stays on the tour, you will not be allowed to play in our venues.”