Macklemore, who was scheduled to perform at the remaining concerts of Ed Sheeran’s ongoing U.S. tour, was dropped from the lineup after posting messages supporting Palestine.
The company organizing the tour said some stadium operators had refused to host concerts featuring Macklemore. It said keeping the artist on the tour would increase the risk of all the concerts being canceled and could affect hundreds of thousands of fans.
He was scheduled to perform at eight U.S. concerts
Macklemore was scheduled to perform at eight of the 10 remaining concerts on the U.S. leg. The tour was expected to resume in Philadelphia on September 19.
In a post on his social media account, Macklemore alleged that the decision was driven by Robert Kraft, owner of the American football team the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium. The rapper claimed that Ed Sheeran told him Kraft opposed his performance and that some stadium owners had said they would not host the concerts if Macklemore remained on the tour.
Macklemore said that some people had been upset by the phrase “Free Palestine” and the Palestinian flag, criticizing the fact that this reaction was stronger than reactions to the deaths of children in Gaza.
Petition launched to remove him from the concerts
The Israel-American Council launched a petition on September 7 calling for Macklemore to be removed from the opening slot at the tour’s remaining concerts.
Grammy-winning Macklemore began his music career in the 2000s and became known for his song “Thrift Shop.” The artist posted his first message criticizing Israel’s attacks on Gaza on November 7, 2023.
Macklemore reiterated his support for Palestine at a concert in Germany on June 2, 2024. On September 20, 2024, he released a song titled “Hind’s Hall 2” with Palestinian artists in support of Gaza and announced that all proceeds from the song would be donated to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees.
