Ed Sheeran Blames US Tour Promoter for Removing Macklemore Following Pro-Palestine Remarks

Pop star Ed Sheeran has placed the blame on his United States tour promoter for dropping Macklemore after the rapper expressed support for Palestine. In a six-slide Instagram post released on Tuesday, Sheeran stated that it was necessary to clarify the facts surrounding the controversy.

According to Sheeran, the decision to remove Macklemore from the US Loop Tour came after various venues threatened to cancel future shows if the rapper remained on the bill. Macklemore, whose legal name is Ben Haggerty, faced backlash after delivering “Free Palestine” and other pro-Palestine statements while performing alongside Sheeran at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey earlier this month.

“I was informed that this stance was based on how Macklemore conveyed part of this message during his performance, rather than on everything that was said,” Sheeran wrote, adding that he attempted to mediate discussions with the venues throughout the week.

Following Macklemore's removal, several supporting acts announced their departure from Sheeran's tour on Tuesday in solidarity with the rapper and Palestinians. These artists included Aaron Rowe, Beoga, Lukas Graham, and Finneas.

Robert Kraft, owner of the National Football League’s New England Patriots, acknowledged that he pressured Sheeran to drop Macklemore from the lineup. The billionaire stated that the rapper was barred from performing at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts due to what he termed a “broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery”.

In his own Instagram post, Macklemore revealed that Sheeran informed him of Kraft organizing a boycott among stadium owners unless the rapper was removed for his remarks. “I told him that if those words were more offensive than the 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,” Macklemore said.

Sheeran maintained that the choice to boot Macklemore from the tour belonged to the promoter rather than himself, while noting that he is “appalled by the conflict between Israel and Palestine”. He explained, “I am not complicit. I have my personal views on the devastating conflict. Just because I choose not to speak publicly, it doesn’t mean I don’t have them, and it doesn’t mean I don’t care.”

In a statement to Al Jazeera, Kraft defended the ban by stating it was not intended to diminish the suffering of innocent Palestinians, but argued that advocacy should not come at the expense of the Jewish community.

Macklemore described Sheeran as a close friend, noting they discussed the situation over the past week, though acknowledging Sheeran's choice to remain neutral publicly. Explaining his stance on avoiding political platforms at concerts, Sheeran concluded, “I choose to use my fame and platform to be a place of safety and sanctuary, to maintain diplomacy and keep conversations open, not closed.”