NEW JERSEY — Macklemore has been removed from the remaining support dates of Ed Sheeran's US Loop tour. The decision followed notifications from venues that they would not allow the rapper to perform on their stages.

Messina Touring Group stated it was notified by venues on upcoming US tour dates that they would not allow a concert to take place with Macklemore on the lineup. The promoter added that allowing him to perform would result in the cancellation of the tour and impact hundreds of thousands of fans.

The removal stems from a speech Macklemore delivered at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on 4 September 2025. During the address, he said "Free Palestine" to the crowd.

He also called US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) a "terrorist organization" during his speech at MetLife Stadium. He showed images of devastation from Israeli military attacks in Gaza during his performance of the song "Hind’s Hall." The track references protesters who occupied a building named in honor of Hind Rajab, a six-year-old killed by the Israeli military in 2024.

He performed at MetLife Stadium on 5 September 2025, the day after his initial speech. During this second appearance, he addressed the reaction to his political statements.

"Criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide in no way is a criticism of you. My message is for peace, love; for all human beings to be treated with dignity, respect and equality," he said.

The Israeli American Council launched a petition demanding his removal from Ed Sheeran's tour. The group StopAntisemitism accused him of "ambushing" fans with "anti-Israel propaganda" in an Instagram post. Singer Pink amplified StopAntisemitism's Instagram post, sharing her personal reaction to the events.

"I have never asked for another artist to be silenced and I’m not asking now. I don’t need anyone fired, and I don’t need a refund. What I need is to be able to say, as a Jewish mom, ‘that scared me, and it scared people I love,’ without being told our fear is just propaganda, and without being told I’m somehow cool with genocide because I noticed?" Pink said.

He was scheduled to open for Ed Sheeran at eight of the remaining 10 shows of the US Loop tour. The tour is scheduled to resume on 19 September 2025 in Philadelphia. Venues that objected to his performance 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, AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, and Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. A representative for the Tampa Sports Authority confirmed that he will not be performing at the upcoming show at Raymond James Stadium.

Why It Matters

The removal of a supporting act from a major stadium tour illustrates the commercial risks venues associate with political speech during entertainment events. Messina Touring Group indicated that the refusal of multiple venues to host him threatened the viability of the entire US leg of the tour, potentially affecting hundreds of thousands of ticket holders. This situation demonstrates the leverage venue owners hold over touring schedules and the content permitted on their stages.

The incident connects to broader debates regarding artistic expression and geopolitical conflicts. His prior work, including his production of The Encampments, demonstrates a sustained engagement with activist movements. The involvement of high-profile figures like Pink and organizations such as the Israeli American Council and StopAntisemitism shows how individual performances can trigger wider cultural and political responses that extend beyond the concert venue.

Timeline

On 7 October 2023, he cited more than 20,000 children killed in Gaza by the Israeli military since the 7 October 2023 Hamas attacks. On 4 September 2025, he said "Free Palestine" during a speech at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Also on 4 September 2025, he said: "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.’"

On 4 September 2025, he said: "I said: ‘Free Palestine!’ 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." On the same date, he called US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) a "terrorist organization" during his speech at MetLife Stadium. He also showed images of devastation from Israeli military attacks in Gaza during his performance of the song "Hind’s Hall." On 5 September 2025, he performed at MetLife Stadium. During that performance, he said: "Criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide in no way is a criticism of you. My message is for peace, love; for all human beings to be treated with dignity, respect and equality."

What's New

The official record states that venues on the U.S. leg of Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour informed the promoter, Messina Touring Group, that they would not allow a concert to take place with him on the lineup, which would result in the cancellation of the tour and impact hundreds of thousands of fans.

He is an executive producer of the feature film The Encampments, which offers insider access to the student movement ignited at Columbia University protesting universities' financial ties to the war on Gaza. The Israeli American Council is an organization involved in the response to the tour controversy.