Rapper Macklemore has been removed from Ed Sheeran’s ongoing US tour, an outcome stemming from public criticism following his pro-Palestinian remarks during live performances earlier this month. The artist, whose legal name is Benjamin Haggerty, had been serving as the opening act for the series of shows.
The controversy began on 4 September at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. During the performance, the long-time activist used the platform to declare that a primary reason for joining the tour was to advocate for the Palestinian cause in large venues. He performed his song Hind’s Hall, which condemns military actions in Gaza, while accompanying footage of the conflict was projected onto the screens.
In a detailed statement released Monday, Macklemore confirmed he had been cut from the lineup following a week of discussions with Sheeran that ultimately led to a fundamental disagreement. While expressing empathy for the difficult position his friend was in, the rapper criticized the English singer for failing to take a firm stance on the conflict. Macklemore maintained that there is no neutral position between the oppressor and the oppressed, even acknowledging the loss of professional opportunities like sponsorships and festival slots.
The backlash was swift, with the advocacy group StopAntisemitism condemning the rapper for allegedly ambushing concertgoers with propaganda. Further pressure mounted when the Israeli-American Council petitioned for his removal, arguing that the stadium concert was not an appropriate space for political protests. Robert Kraft, owner of the Gillette Stadium, also intervened by banning the rapper from the venue, accusing him of spreading hate speech and referencing historical concerns regarding his past public conduct.
Macklemore addressed the accusations of antisemitism during a subsequent concert at the same venue, where he directly engaged with Jewish audience members. He asserted that criticizing Israel or opposing Zionism is not equivalent to holding animosity toward Jewish people, stating that such conflations only serve to protect Israel from accountability. Despite being removed from the tour after only two shows, he insisted that if his words succeeded in focusing attention back on the situation in Palestine, the endeavor was successful.
The conflict in the region escalated following the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, which left approximately 1,200 people dead and 251 taken hostage. Subsequent military campaigns in Gaza have resulted in more than 73,780 deaths, according to health ministry figures in the territory. Israel has consistently rejected accusations of genocide, maintaining its operations are acts of self-defense conducted under international law.
The controversy expanded to include US singer Pink, who drew criticism for reposting a message that condemned Macklemore’s on-stage comments. Pink, who is Jewish, faced a significant backlash and responded with a lengthy statement clarifying that she does not represent any government. She argued that Macklemore’s decision to discuss the conflict before a stadium full of families was inappropriate and that he had no authority to dictate the perspectives of Jewish people regarding the discourse.
The rapper’s history also became a point of contention, with detractors referencing an incident from 2014 where he wore a costume featuring a prosthetic nose and a beard, which critics labeled antisemitic. While that year also saw him perform his anthem Same Love at the Grammys alongside 33 LGBTQ+ couples, the past controversy was frequently resurfaced by those angered by his recent political stance.
As of now, Ed Sheeran has not publicly commented on the departure of his opening act. It remains unclear who will replace the rapper for the remainder of the tour, though tour promoter Messina Touring Group indicated that pressure from various venues had threatened the viability of the entire tour if the situation were not addressed. The report also notes that he told the audience: “A big part of the reason why I wanted to do this tour in the first place is so that I could stand up in stadiums like this and say two words that are very, very dear to my heart: Free Palestine. The report also notes that criticism of apartheid, being against genocide, is in no way a criticism of you,” he said, adding that he wanted people in Gaza and the West Bank to know they had not been forgotten, criticism of Israel. The report also notes that pictured in 2014, have been friends for 13 years, the rapper said in his statement, ed Sheeran and Macklemore. The report also notes that which was nearly 1,000 words long, Macklemore said that after a week of “difficult conversations” with Sheeran, that ultimately ended “in a place of fundamental disagreement”, he was dropped from the lineup, in his statement on Instagram. The report also notes that too many lives have been lost and there has been too much suffering, but only sharing selective information and ignoring the actions of Hamas is not honest and only advances more divisiveness and hate,” Kraft said, i agree with Macklemore. The report also notes that money, brand deals, sponsorships, festivals, private shows, relationships and access. The report also notes that writing that “one of the most effective ways to enforce silence has been to weaponize the accusation of antisemitism”, he also addressed the accusations of antisemitism.
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