Rapper Macklemore was removed from the remaining U.S. dates of Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour after he showed support for Palestine during his performances. During a concert in New Jersey, Macklemore chanted ‘Free Palestine’ and showed footage from Gaza, which sparked backlash. Tour promoter Messina Touring Group decided to remove him after venues said they would not host upcoming shows if Macklemore remained on the lineup. The decision led to criticism from fans and other artists who supported Macklemore, while pro-Palestinian groups also announced plans to protest.
Aaron Rowe, a supporting act on the tour, also withdrew his participation in solidarity with Macklemore, according to soapcentral.com. Rowe posted a message on Instagram explaining his decision and criticized how powerful figures like Robert Kraft were influencing the situation. He also referenced historical events related to genocide and occupation in his statement.
Other artists who were part of the tour, including Finneas, Beoga, and Lukas Graham, also left in support of Macklemore. Beoga had been performing with Sheeran during his concerts while Finneas was scheduled for later dates on the tour.
Sheeran said publicly that removing Macklemore was the promoter’s decision and not his own. He said venue owners had threatened to cancel shows if Macklemore remained on the bill. Robert Kraft, who owns Gillette Stadium and the New England Patriots, confirmed that Macklemore would not be allowed to perform at Gillette Stadium. Kraft said his decision was based on Macklemore’s recent statements and what Kraft described as a broader history of rhetoric and imagery offensive to the Jewish community.
Bill Maher weighed in on the situation during his show ‘Real Time,’ bringing up Macklemore’s controversial costume from 2014, according to a report from TheWrap. Maher referenced a performance where Macklemore wore a dark wig, beard, and large prosthetic nose. Critics at the time said the outfit resembled an antisemitic caricature. He questioned whether people were aware of the incident and pointed out how it had been received by many viewers. Maher also noted that Ed Sheeran had known Macklemore for years and had allowed him to open for the tour. He criticized how the situation had unfolded, saying it left Sheeran’s band unwilling to perform with him and forced him to find a new opening act.
Macklemore has stood by his pro-Palestinian comments and even called on Robert Kraft to match a $1 million donation to aid Gaza. Kraft responded by saying he had already donated $2 million to help with the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Macklemore said the $1 million represented his net earnings from the Sheeran tour and would go to organizations helping Palestinians. He said that even if he and Kraft disagreed, they could agree that Palestinian lives should be protected.
Macklemore’s team did not respond to requests for comment about the recent controversy. The incident has reignited debate over how public figures handle political statements and their impact on careers.
Some have praised Macklemore for standing up for his beliefs while others have criticized the way he presented them. Macklemore previously wrote on his website in 2014 that he never intended to offend anyone and acknowledged the costume’s negative reception. He said at the time that his intention was not to put down any group based on their identity.
IMAGE: Macklemore e 8 February 2013, 20:06 By Amanda Rhoades San Francisco Foghorn CC2