Macklemore Removed From Ed Sheeran Tour After Pro-Palestinian Remarks

Rapper Macklemore has been removed from the remaining dates of Ed Sheeran's US "+ - = ÷ x" Tour, also known as the Mathematics Tour, following his pro-Palestinian statements made during a September concert in New Jersey. Messina Touring Group, the promoter for the US leg of the tour, stated that venues informed them they would not permit shows with Macklemore as part of the lineup, which would have led to tour cancellations affecting hundreds of thousands of fans. Consequently, Macklemore will not perform as an opening act for the remaining eight scheduled stadium shows, which resume on September 19 in Philadelphia.

Macklemore addressed his removal in an Instagram post, suggesting that Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots, influenced stadium owners to deny him appearances. He claimed Kraft contacted Sheeran and other stadium owners, issuing an ultimatum: if Macklemore remained on the tour, he would not be allowed to perform at their venues. Macklemore stated that Sheeran felt he was in a "terrible situation" as his typically apolitical stance was challenged, with Sheeran noting that "Free Palestine" and the Palestinian flag had offended many people he spoke with.

Macklemore argued that if these words are considered more offensive than the deaths of tens of thousands of Palestinian children, there is a "fundamental disconnect." He also criticized the idea of neutrality in the conflict, stating, "There is no neutral stance between the oppressor and the oppressed." He highlighted the plight of Palestinians, mentioning over 20,000 children killed in Gaza and the ongoing violence.

The controversy began when Macklemore used his September 4 performance at MetLife Stadium to advocate for Palestine, saying, "I want to say two words that are close to my heart and that I want to say them loud and clear, for the people of Gaza and for the people of the occupied West Bank. Free Palestine." He then performed his song "Hind's Hall," which references pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University, while images of destruction in Gaza were shown on stadium screens.

His remarks went viral, prompting an online petition calling for his removal from the tour, organized in part by the Israeli-American Council (IAC). The IAC praised the decision, stating that freedom of speech does not equate to freedom from responsibility and that concert stages are not platforms for "anti-Israel and anti-Palestinian propaganda."