On Sept. 14, Macklemore, the artist behind songs like “Thrift Shop“ and “Same Love,” released a statement on Instagram revealing that he was removed from Ed Sheeran’s Loop tour for expressing his pro-Palestine views on stage. Since the statement’s release, every single artist set to perform with Ed Sheeran on this tour has dropped out — including his own band.
Macklemore wrote extensively in an Instagram post, explaining the situation and his feelings about it. As he announced his departure, he said in a statement:
“…Last Monday, in the middle of all the media attention surrounding Pink and what I said at MetLife, Ed told me that Robert Kraft called him. We were scheduled to play Gillette Stadium later this month, which is owned by the Kraft Group. Ed told me that Kraft said I would not be allowed to perform in his stadium. Ed also told me that Kraft had rallied some 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…”
Macklemore was removed from the tour after performing at MetLife Stadium on Sept. 4 and 5, where he advocated for a free Palestine, saying, “a big part of the reason why I wanted to do this tour in the first place is so I can stand up in stadiums like this and say two words that are very near and dear to my heart: free Palestine. I want those words to be loud and clear so the people all the way in Gaza, in the occupied West Bank, know that we have not forgotten about them.”
He also performed his 2024 song, “Hind’s Hall,” responding to pro-Palestinian protests. The song references a building at Columbia University that was occupied by protesters, named after Hind Rajab, a six-year-old Palestinian girl who was killed by Israeli Defence Forces in 2024.
Kraft is not the first figure to publicly oppose Macklemore for his support of Palestine. In his original statement, Macklemore references the artist Pink. She had previously taken to Instagram to repost a clip from the StopAntisemitism Instagram group (@stop_antisemitism), with the caption saying that Macklemore had “accused Israel of a false ‘genocide’ and turned a mainstream event into a political nightmare against the Jewish state.”
Macklemore accused multi-billionaire Robert Kraft, the owner of The Kraft Group and Gillette Stadium — where Macklemore was set to perform — as one of the primary forces against him. Kraft’s relationship to Israel has been explicit throughout his public life.
In response to Macklemore being forced out of the tour, Sheeran’s entire lineup of musical support have pulled out. In separate statements, Finneas, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe and Beoga, Sheeran’s live backing band, all stepped down from the tour. Beoga and Aaron Rowe are perhaps taking the biggest risks by stepping down, as they are the smallest artists invited to perform.
In their statement, Beoga writes, “as musicians, playing to those crowds every night is the stuff of dreams, but to play in venues that silence anyone advocating for a free Palestine is simply not an option for us… We are Irish people who understand colonialism as founding members of the Irish artist for Palestine movement we are committed activists for justice and will continue to be.”
In response, Sheeran expressed in an Instagram post, “I am appalled by the conflict between Israel and Palestine. The suffering and pain caused on both sides is a human tragedy.” He added that it was not his decision to remove Macklemore, but the promoters’ instead. “Just because I choose not to speak publicly, it doesn’t mean I don’t have [personal views],” he said.
With all of the attention that this news has gotten, Macklemore has made an additional post on Instagram, pledging to donate $1 million to six organizations working directly to support Palestinian people. Macklemore challenges Kraft to match his donation.
Kraft responded on social media saying that before Macklemore had asked him to match this donation, Sheeran had already reached out asking him to match his own $2 million donation to “aid in the region.” According to Kraft, he and Sheeran are working together to get other venues involved in donations too. Despite this pledge, where the donations will be going is unspecified.
The reaction from fans seems to be frustration with this news when you look at the comment section. The vagueness of the pledge to donate money to the region has people worried the money will go directly to Israel. And though impressive that Sheeran has allegedly been putting in these efforts behind the scenes, it begs the question if he’ll ever put his mouth where his money is.
Macklemore’s follow-up post on Instagram urges users to focus their attention back to Palestinians. “This is a manmade injustice, and I believe it requires immediate political change. Palestinians have lived for decades without basic rights and should not have to wait another day to be free…”
Below are the various organizations that Macklemore has said he will donate to, and encourages you, if able, to do the same.
PCRF – Palestine Children’s Relief Fund
UNRWA USA National Committee Inc.
Despite protesters and the controversy, Sheeran still performed at his scheduled show in Philadelphia on Sept. 19, with no opening acts. Before starting, he made a statement highlighting the tragedy of both the October 7 attack in Israel and the violence that has followed in the West Bank. He emphasized his commitment to his fans is unwavering, and despite the controversy, he didn’t want to let them down and that his concerts were intended to be a safe space free of politics.