Macklemore Dropped from Remaining Ed Sheeran Tour Dates After Venues Cite Concerns Over Pro-Palestine Statements
Promoter Messina Touring Group said several U.S. venues would not allow Macklemore to perform, leading to his removal from the rest of Ed Sheedan's Loop Tour following his onstage calls for a “free Palestine.”
Macklemore will no longer appear as an opening act on the remaining U.S. dates of Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour after the promoter, Messina Touring Group, said a number of stadiums informed it they would not permit the rapper to perform. The decision affects eight of the ten shows left on the leg, which resumes on Sept. 19 in Philadelphia. The venues cited include Lincoln Financial Field, Gillette Stadium, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Lucas Oil Stadium, Bank of America Stadium, AT&T Stadium and Raymond James Stadium.
The promoter’s statement said the venues’ refusal would have forced the cancellation of the concerts and impacted “hundreds of thousands of fans,” prompting the decision to drop Macklemore from the lineup. Representatives for Sheeran, Macklemore and the stadiums did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Macklemore, who has publicly supported Palestinians for several years, used two MetLife Stadium shows earlier this month to chant “Free Palestine,” display images of Gaza’s devastation and perform his protest song “Hind’s Hall.” He told the audience that the words were meant to let people in Gaza and the West Bank know they had not been forgotten.
His remarks drew criticism from pro-Israel groups, including a petition from the Israeli American Council urging Sheeran to remove him, and accusations of “anti-Israel propaganda” on social media. Pink, who shared the petition, later clarified that she does not seek to silence the rapper but expressed personal concern over the controversy.
Legal observers noted that most of the affected stadiums are publicly owned, raising potential First Amendment questions if the venues barred the performer because of his political statements. A similar situation arose earlier this summer when Raymond James Stadium hosted Kanye West concerts despite backlash over his past antisemitic remarks.
A Tampa Sports Authority spokesperson confirmed Macklemore will not perform at the upcoming show but said the concert will proceed as scheduled. Sheeran’s tour will continue through Nov. 7, after which a South American leg is planned for later in the year.