Macklemore removed from Ed Sheeran tour following Palestine advocacy

Macklemore was removed from the remaining United States dates of Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour following his use of the stage to advocate for Palestinian liberation. During an opening set, Macklemore called for a “Free Palestine” and performed his song “Hind’s Hall.”

Tour promoters stated that multiple venues would not permit Macklemore to perform. Specifically, Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft indicated that Macklemore’s recent performances and rhetoric had crossed a line deemed harmful to the Jewish community.

Ed Sheeran addressed the controversy by stating that his concerts are intended to be spaces that unite people rather than divide them through politics, and he maintained that the decision to remove the supporting act was not his own. The incident has sparked debate regarding the intersection of music and political advocacy, as well as the limits of freedom of expression in commercial entertainment spaces.