Rapper Macklemore has been dropped from the remainder of Ed Sheeran's US tour after venues objected to his recent onstage statements regarding the conflict in Gaza and the West Bank.
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ManyPress Editorial
Key facts
- •Macklemore was removed from eight of the 10 remaining US tour dates for Ed Sheeran.
- •The tour promoter, Messina Touring Group, stated that venues threatened to cancel shows if Macklemore remained on the lineup.
- •Macklemore performed his protest song "Hind’s Hall" during his September 4 and 5 appearances at MetLife Stadium.
- •The Israeli-American Council initiated a petition calling for the rapper's removal from the tour.
- •The US tour is set to resume on September 19 in Philadelphia.
Macklemore has been removed from the remaining dates of Ed Sheeran’s US Loop Tour following his vocal support for Palestinians during performances earlier this month. The decision was announced by the tour's promoter, Messina Touring Group, which stated that multiple venues refused to host concerts if the rapper remained on the lineup. This development follows Macklemore's appearances at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on September 4 and 5, where he performed his protest song "Hind’s Hall."
Promoter Cites Venue Objections
Messina Touring Group, the promoter for the US leg of the tour, confirmed that they were notified by upcoming venues that they would not allow the concerts to proceed with Macklemore scheduled to perform. The promoter stated that maintaining the rapper on the tour would have resulted in the cancellation of the shows, potentially impacting hundreds of thousands of fans. Consequently, after discussions with stakeholders, the decision was made to remove him from the remaining support dates.
Onstage Statements and Backlash
During his performances at MetLife Stadium, Macklemore used his platform to call for a "Free Palestine" and expressed solidarity with people in Gaza and the West Bank. He also performed his 2024 song "Hind’s Hall," which criticizes Israel's military campaign and references the death of six-year-old Hind Rajab. Following these remarks, the Israeli-American Council launched a petition demanding his removal, arguing that he used the concert platform to advance a political agenda.
Impacted Tour Dates
Macklemore was originally scheduled to open for eight of the 10 remaining shows on the US tour. The venues that reportedly objected to his participation include stadiums in Philadelphia, Foxborough, Atlanta, Indianapolis, Charlotte, Arlington, and Tampa. The tour is scheduled to resume on September 19 in Philadelphia.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Independent Culture, Guardian Music, Deadline, Rolling Stone.
