Macklemore Axed From Ed Sheeran Tour After Backlash to Viral On-Stage Palestine Speech

(Screengrab via X)

Grammy-winning rapper Macklemore has been dropped from the remainder of British singer Ed Sheeran’s U.S. stadium tour after venues refused to host upcoming concerts with the rapper on the bill following his viral “Free Palestinian” speech at a New Jersey show.

The artist had been scheduled to support Sheeran at eight of the final 10 dates of the tour, but promoter Messina Touring Group told Rolling Stone that venues warned keeping Macklemore on the lineup could result in shows being cancelled.

“As the concert promoter for Ed Sheeran’s U.S. Loop Tour, 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,” the promoter said in a statement to the outlet.

“After discussions with stakeholders, Macklemore will not be performing on the remaining support dates,” it added.

During Macklemore’s appearance at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on September 4 he used his supporting slot to address the war in Gaza and the occupied West Bank in a moment that was later shared on his Instagram page.

“A big part of the reason why I wanted to do this tour in the first place is so I could stand up in stadiums like this and say two words that are very near and dear to my heart: ‘Free Palestine.’ I said, ‘Free Palestine!’” Macklemore told the crowd.

He continued: “I want those words to be loud and clear, so that people all the way in Gaza to the occupied West Bank know that we have not forgotten about them.”

Macklemore then performed “Hind’s Hall,” his song inspired by the pro-Palestinian protesters who occupied a Columbia University building and renamed it after five year old Gazan girl Hind Rajab, who was killed in 2024 by Israel.

The performance quickly spread across social media and prompted the Israeli American Council to launch a petition calling for Macklemore’s removal from Sheeran’s remaining dates.

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