Controversy Over Macklemore’s Pro-Palestine Statements

Macklemore was removed from Ed Sheeran’s tour after several venues reportedly refused to allow him to perform due to his pro-Palestine statements, according to reports. A statement from Sheeran’s concert promoter said they were notified by venues that a concert with Macklemore on the lineup would lead to the cancellation of the tour and impact hundreds of thousands of fans.

The Israeli-American Council launched a petition calling for Macklemore’s removal from the tour, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Macklemore has supported the Free Palestine cause for some time but recently received backlash after giving pro-Palestine speeches during performances at MetLife Stadium earlier this month.

Other Artists Withdraw in Solidarity

Following Macklemore’s removal, other acts, including Finneas and Lukas Graham, withdrew from the tour in support of Macklemore and free speech, according to Rolling Stone. The controversy has led to a decline in ticket sales for the remaining dates, with thousands of seats still available on Ticketmaster and third-party reseller sites.

Ticket prices have dropped significantly, with the lowest prices appearing on third-party reseller sites; For instance, StubHub is offering section 200 seats for this weekend’s Philadelphia concert at just $65. Seats to Sheeran’s Indianapolis date on Oct. 10 start at $66 on SeatGeek, but Tickets to the Foxborough shows at Gillette Stadium start at just $78 on SeatGeek, a 30% from the face value of $112 for upper-level seats.

Tour Dates and Available Tickets

Sheeran’s tour kicked off in June in Glendale, Arizona, and has made stops across the U.S. and Canada, and there are currently nine dates remaining, with the tour wrapping stateside on Nov. 7 in Tampa, Florida. Ticketmaster still has seats available for all remaining Loop Tour dates, with prices starting at $87 for the final show in Tampa.

The venues that reportedly objected to Macklemore include Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia; Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts; Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta; Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis; Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina; AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas; and Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The controversy has led to a significant drop in ticket demand, with many fans opting not to attend shows associated with the controversy.