Macklemore has been removed from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour following his outspoken support for Palestine, triggering a major fallout around the British singer’s remaining tour dates.
The Grammy-winning rapper was due to perform alongside Sheeran on several US dates but was dropped after making pro-Palestinian comments during a performance at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium earlier this month.
Macklemore said he and Sheeran had several difficult conversations about the situation. He claimed that Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium, pressured Sheeran and other stadium owners to prevent him from performing.
The tour promoter, Messina Touring Group, confirmed that Macklemore would no longer perform on the remaining support dates after discussions with venues and other stakeholders.
Sheeran has since rejected the suggestion that he personally made the decision. In a statement, he said Macklemore's removal was made by the tour's promoters and venues, adding that he had spent the week attempting to find a solution.
The controversy has now spread beyond the two artists. Finneas, Lukas Graham, Beoga and Aaron Rowe have all withdrawn from Sheeran's tour in solidarity with Macklemore.
The dispute is particularly notable because Sheeran and Macklemore have known each other for years, with Macklemore describing Sheeran as a longtime friend and "brother". Their current disagreement has therefore become more than a dispute between two performers — it has raised wider questions about political expression, venue control and what artists can say from the stage.
For now, Sheeran's remaining tour dates are continuing, but the departure of several support acts has created uncertainty around the final stretch of the tour.
