Macklemore Kicked Off Ed Sheeran Tour for Saying 'Free Palestine' During Show

Rapper Macklemore was kicked off the remainder of Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour dates after expressing pro-Palestinian views at a show in New Jersey.

The Comments: During his performance at MetLife Stadium on September 4, he said, "Free Palestine. I want those words to be loud and clear, so the people from Gaza all the way to the occupied West Bank know that we have not forgotten." On September 5, during another performance at MetLife, he addressed Jewish audience members and said, "Criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide in no way is a criticism of you. My message is for peace, love; for all human beings to be treated with dignity, respect, and equality."

The Controversy: The comments prompted critical posts from the StopAntisemitism activist organization, one of which was amplified by pop singer P!nk. Subsequently, Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium, called Sheeran to tell him Macklemore would not be allowed to perform at his stadium and reportedly organized a boycott from other stadium owners. Kraft said his decision wasn't about "diminishing the suffering of innocent Palestinians" but that "advocacy should not come at the expense of the Jewish community or obscure the responsibility of Hamas." Both P!nk and Kraft are Jewish Americans.

Tour Changes: Macklemore was then dropped from the tour, a decision Sheeran said was "the promoter's decision." Shortly thereafter, the other opening acts, which included Lukas Graham, Aaron Rome, Finneas, and Beoga – which performed as Sheeran's backing band – announced their withdrawal from all of Sheeran's upcoming dates.

Statements After: Sheeran wrote on Instagram, "There is a reason I do not use my professional platform for politics – my audience includes young people, often children, of all backgrounds. Those who come to my shows do not expect a political forum. I respect Macklemore's strength of purpose to stand up and shout for what he believes. However, there is room for multiple approaches to the same end: peace. I choose to use my fame and platform to be a place of safety and sanctuary, to maintain diplomacy and keep conversations open, not closed."

Macklemore described Sheeran as a longtime "friend" who "was in a f***ed up position" because "his typical apolitical stance was being challenged in a way it never had been before." He also criticized what he described as the weaponization of antisemitism accusations, and concluded, "I didn't need 10 shows from Ed. I needed 2. Two chances to stand in front of 90,000 people and say the words that somehow became too dangerous to say. Free Palestine. But if those words cost me the stage, while turning the conversation back to Palestine, then it was the most successful tour I've ever been on."

Past Politics: Macklemore's music has never shied away from political and social themes. In 2012, he and creative partner Ryan Lewis released the pro-gay rights song "Same Love," and in 2016 he released "White Privilege II," which commented on police brutality and Black Lives Matter. In 2014, Macklemore dressed in a costume that many argued resembled a Jewish man and was antisemitic, though Macklemore later apologized and said he didn't mean to offend anyone.

How The Media Covered It: The story was widely covered by mainstream outlets, with some outlets publishing several pieces of coverage as new developments were reported. Some outlets from the left and center, like The New York Times (Lean Left bias), Associated Press (Lean Left), and DW News (Center), published headlines that framed Sheeran's tour as being in dire condition since the support acts withdrew. Fox News (Right) highlighted Democratic lawmakers and other liberal figures who voiced support for Macklemore.

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