Seattle-born rapper Macklemore has been removed from the U.S. leg of Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour after several venues threatened to cancel concerts if he remained on the lineup. The decision followed Macklemore’s onstage remarks at the first two shows on Sept. 4 and 5 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where he chanted ‘Free Palestine’ and expressed solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza and the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Controversial Onstage Actions

Macklemore, whose real name is Benjamin Hammond Haggerty, performed his song ‘Hind’s Hall’ during the Sept. 4 show. The song is one of two he released in 2024 in support of student protesters and in response to Israel’s military actions in Gaza following the Hamas-led attacks of Oct. 7, 2023. The rapper also wore a keffiyeh, a traditional Palestinian scarf, during the performance.

His remarks and attire drew criticism from pro-Israel groups, including the Israeli American Council (IAC), which launched a petition calling for Macklemore’s removal from the tour. In a statement, the IAC said it welcomed the decision, adding, ‘Anyone who chooses to turn an 80,000-person concert into a vehicle for advancing a one-sided political agenda must stand behind that choice.’

Venue Pressure and Promoter Decision

Messina Touring Group, the promoter for the U.S. leg of Sheeran’s Loop Tour, confirmed the removal of Macklemore after several venues reportedly threatened to cancel the remaining concerts if he performed. According to a statement shared with Rolling Stone, the promoter said, ‘We have been notified by venues on the upcoming U.S. tour dates that they will not allow a concert to take place with Macklemore on the lineup, which would result in the cancellation of the tour and impact hundreds of thousands of fans.’

Macklemore was originally scheduled to appear at eight of the 10 remaining shows on the U.S. leg of the tour, which resumes on Sept. 19 in Philadelphia. The venues reportedly objecting to his inclusion include Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia; Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts; and Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, among others.

In a statement posted on Instagram, Macklemore claimed that he was removed from the tour after Robert Kraft — the billionaire owner of the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium — pressured Sheeran. ‘Ed told me that Kraft said I would not be allowed to perform in his stadium,’ Macklemore wrote. He did not elaborate further on the nature of the pressure campaign or provide additional context from Sheeran.

Impact on the Tour and Public Reaction

The Loop Tour is one of the most anticipated concert series of the year, with Sheeran drawing massive crowds at each stop. Macklemore had been slated to open for Sheeran on the remaining U.S. dates, but his removal raises questions about the intersection of political expression and public performance in the music industry.

Reps for Sheeran and most of the venues did not immediately respond to requests for comment, leaving many details about the decision unresolved, and the controversy highlights the growing divide over the Israel-Hamas conflict and the role of artists in voicing their political beliefs on public platforms.