Macklemore says his short-lived run on Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour ended after a political flashpoint reached the top of the venue food chain - and, in his telling, Patriots owner Robert Kraft was right in the middle of it.
The rapper joined Sheeran’s U.S. tour earlier this month, but his stint barely made it past two shows. On September 4 at MetLife Stadium, Macklemore told the crowd he wanted to use the moment to say “Free Palestine.” He then performed his 2024 protest song Hind’s Hall as images from Gaza filled the stadium screens.
The backlash came quickly. Pink, who was also on the bill, later reshared a post calling for Macklemore’s removal.
The Israeli American Council also launched a petition demanding the same. By Monday, tour promoter Messina Touring Group confirmed Macklemore would not play the remaining dates.
Macklemore then laid out his side in a lengthy Instagram post, saying Sheeran told him Kraft had personally called to say he would not be allowed to perform at Gillette Stadium, which is owned by The Kraft Group. He also claimed Kraft had pushed other stadium owners to issue a collective ultimatum against Sheeran’s camp.
“Ed was in a f***ed up position,” Macklemore wrote. “His typical apolitical stance was being challenged in a way it never had been before.”
He added that Sheeran told him the words “Free Palestine” and the Palestinian flag had been described as hurtful by people Sheeran had spoken with. Macklemore said he responded directly: “I told him that if those words were more offensive than tens of thousands of Palestinian children being killed by Israel, then there was a fundamental disconnect between where those people stood and where I stood.”
Messina Touring Group’s statement did not name Kraft or any other individual. It said only that unnamed venues had informed the tour they would not host a show with Macklemore on the bill.
So far, representatives for Kraft, Sheeran, and the venues involved have not publicly confirmed or disputed Macklemore’s account. Two of the venues reportedly involved, Gillette Stadium and Bank of America Stadium, are privately owned, while the rest of Sheeran’s remaining U.S. stops operate under public or municipal ownership.
Before the removal, Macklemore had been scheduled to appear at eight of Sheeran’s ten remaining U.S. dates. The tour is set to pick back up September 19 in Philadelphia.
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