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Ed Sheeran breaks silence after Macklemore dropped from tour
Sheeran said the decision was not his, explaining that the removal came from the tour's promoter and venue owners after several stadiums indicated they would not host shows if Macklemore remained on the lineup.
The comments come amid a growing dispute involving Macklemore, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and the stadium operators hosting Sheeran's U.S. concerts.
What Happened at the MetLife Stadium Show?
Macklemore performed alongside Sheeran at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Sept. 4. During his set, he spoke about the Israel-Gaza conflict and led the crowd in a “Free Palestine” chant.
He had previously released the protest song “Hind's Hall” and has continued speaking publicly about the conflict. His remarks drew criticism from some pro-Israel organizations and others who argued that his comments crossed into antisemitism. Macklemore has rejected accusations that he is antisemitic.
After the MetLife performance, Macklemore said he and Sheeran had difficult conversations about his statements and that he was subsequently removed from the remaining U.S. dates.
Sheeran Says the Decision Came From Venues
In his first public response, Sheeran said he wanted to clarify what happened because he did not want people to believe he personally removed Macklemore.
According to Sheeran, his team and promoter tried to find a solution after venues objected to Macklemore's participation. Ultimately, the promoter made the decision to remove him from the remaining shows.
Sheeran said he wants his concerts to remain spaces where people can come together, while also expressing support for peace and humanitarian causes.
Robert Kraft's Role
Macklemore has specifically accused Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium, of organizing pressure against him.
Kraft has acknowledged that he pushed for Macklemore's removal from the Gillette Stadium shows. In a statement, Kraft said his position was based partly on Macklemore's recent actions and what Kraft described as a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric.
Kraft's comments followed Macklemore's allegation that stadium owners were pressured to refuse to host Sheeran's shows if Macklemore remained part of the tour.
The competing accounts have made the circumstances surrounding his removal a major point of controversy.
Other Opening Acts Walk Away
The fallout did not stop with Macklemore.
Following his removal, Sheeran's other opening acts — Finneas, Lukas Graham and Aaron Rowe — along with Sheeran's backing band Beoga announced that they would no longer participate in the tour.
The artists cited concerns about silencing political expression and expressed solidarity with Macklemore.
Their departures further complicated Sheeran's remaining U.S. tour dates.
Sheeran Wants to Keep the Shows Going
Despite the controversy, Sheeran has indicated that he intends to continue the tour.
He emphasized that canceling the shows would affect not only him and the artists involved, but also the large number of crew members and workers whose livelihoods depend on the concerts.
For now, the dispute has left Macklemore off the remaining U.S. dates while Sheeran continues to distance himself from the decision that led to the rapper's removal.
The controversy has also sparked a broader debate over where the line falls between an artist's political expression, a venue's policies and the commercial decisions surrounding major concert tours.
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