Macklemore Removed From Ed Sheeran Tour Following Pro-Palestinian Speech

Rapper Macklemore has been removed from the remaining dates of Ed Sheeran's "+-" Mathematics Tour in the United States following a pro-Palestinian speech he delivered during a recent performance. The production company, Messina Touring Group, announced on Sunday that Macklemore would not perform at the eight remaining shows.

The decision came about a week after the Israeli-American Council (IAC) launched a petition against Macklemore's participation in the tour. The petition was initiated after Macklemore performed at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on September 7, addressing a crowd of over 80,000 people. During his appearance, he delivered a pro-Palestinian speech and performed his song "Hind's Hall," with images from Gaza displayed in the background.

According to the IAC, the stadiums scheduled for upcoming performances informed the production company that they would not permit Macklemore to participate. The Messina Touring Group stated that the situation could have led to the cancellation of the entire tour, affecting hundreds of thousands of fans. "After discussions with the relevant parties, Macklemore will not be performing," the company said.

Macklemore himself had stated during the MetLife performance that one reason he wanted to be part of the tour was the opportunity to stand before stadium crowds and say "Free Palestine." The IAC praised the production company's decision, asserting that the Israeli-American community has shown that "when it is united, its voice is heard." The organization added that "freedom of expression is not freedom from responsibility" and that performance stages should not be used to promote anti-Israel propaganda.

The IAC petition garnered tens of thousands of signatures and millions of social media impressions, drawing attention from American and international media. Macklemore's removal from the tour means he will not take part in the subsequent shows of Ed Sheeran's tour.