Ed Sheeran Tour Rocked by Macklemore Exit Over Pro-Palestinian Remarks

US rapper Macklemore has been dropped from the opening lineup of Ed Sheeran's ongoing "Loop" tour in the United States after making pro-Palestinian remarks on stage, triggering the departure of four other supporting acts in solidarity and drawing sharp criticism from several Jewish organizations.

Macklemore, whose real name is Benjamin Haggerty, performed as an opening act for Sheeran during two shows in East Rutherford, New Jersey, near New York City earlier this month. The 43-year-old rapper has spoken out in support of Palestinians for years, and he used both performances to repeat that message to the crowd.

During the first show, Macklemore told the audience that one of his reasons for joining the tour was the chance to say two words that matter deeply to him on stages across America: "Free Palestine." He said he wanted those words heard loudly so that people from Gaza to the occupied West Bank would know they had not been forgotten, according to video clips he posted himself on Instagram.

At the following concert, Macklemore, 43, addressed what he called his Jewish brothers and sisters directly, saying that criticism of Israel, criticism of what he described as apartheid, and rejection of genocide were in no way an attack on them. He said his message was one of peace and love, calling for all people to be treated with dignity, respect and equality.

The remarks prompted several Jewish organizations to publicly urge Sheeran, 35, to remove Macklemore from the remainder of the tour. The Israeli-American Council, in a petition, argued that freedom of speech does not mean freedom from responsibility, telling Sheeran that the show, the stage and the responsibility were his.

Days later, Macklemore announced that he had been removed from the tour by Sheeran and his team. Sheeran quickly pushed back on suggestions that he personally made the call, saying the decision came from the tour promoter rather than from him. He said he had spent recent days in extensive discussions with venue representatives, the tour promoter and what he called activists on both sides, in an effort to find a shared solution, but that no agreement had been reached.

In the aftermath, four additional acts pulled out of the tour's opening lineup in solidarity with Macklemore: singer Aaron Rowe, Danish artist Lukas Graham, the Irish folk band Beoga, and producer and musician Finneas O'Connell, widely known for his close collaboration with his sister, singer Billie Eilish. O'Connell said artists must not be silenced when they raise their voices for the oppressed.

Attention has also turned to businessman Robert Kraft, who owns a stadium in Massachusetts near Boston where Sheeran is scheduled to perform twice later this month as part of the "Loop" tour. Kraft, who is Jewish, is reported to have played a significant behind the scenes role in Macklemore's removal from the tour's supporting lineup, though the exact nature of his involvement has not been independently confirmed.

Sheeran has continued to distance himself from direct responsibility for the decision, framing it as one made by tour organizers rather than by him personally. The dispute has unfolded against the backdrop of the wider Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which has repeatedly spilled into public commentary from musicians and other public figures in recent years.

As of now, Macklemore has not been reinstated to the tour, and no replacement lineup for the affected dates, including the upcoming Massachusetts shows, has been announced.