Macklemore has been removed from the U.S. portion of Ed Sheeran’s tour following pressure from various venues that threatened to cancel shows if the American rapper, known for his support of Palestinian rights, remained on the lineup.
Benjamin Hammond Haggerty, aka Macklemore, performed alongside Sheeran for the initial two U.S. shows of the Loop Tour at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Despite being scheduled to open for the remaining eight shows, Macklemore was ultimately dropped from the tour.
During his appearance at MetLife, Macklemore vocalized his support for Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, which led to backlash from pro-Israel groups. His performance included wearing a keffiyeh, a traditional Palestinian scarf, and singing “Hind’s Hall,” a song released in 2024 in solidarity with student protesters and against Israel’s military activities in Gaza.
The Israeli American Council (IAC) initiated a petition urging Sheeran to remove Macklemore from the tour, a decision that the IAC welcomed upon confirmation.
In response, Macklemore accused Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium, of influencing the decision to remove him from the tour. Kraft allegedly prohibited Macklemore from performing and persuaded other stadium owners to follow suit, putting Sheeran in a challenging position.
Kraft defended his stance, stating that Gillette Stadium does not endorse hate speech and cited Macklemore’s history of controversial actions and rhetoric as reasons for the removal.
Macklemore clarified that his criticism was aimed at the Israeli government and not Jewish individuals, advocating for peace and equality for all. Despite the support he received, some, like singer Pink, criticized his actions, citing past controversies.
Humanitarian groups have declared Israel’s actions in Gaza as constituting genocide, garnering further support for Macklemore’s stance on Palestinian rights.
In the aftermath of the incident, discussions and opinions on the matter continue to circulate, highlighting the complexities of balancing personal beliefs with public platforms.