Macklemore has been dropped from Ed Sheeran’s US tour after his pro-Palestinian comments onstage sparked backlash from Jewish groups and pro-Israel organisations. The rapper, whose real name is Benjamin Haggerty, had been opening for Sheeran on his Loop Tour. But after repeatedly speaking about Gaza and saying Free Palestine during two concerts earlier this month, his involvement in the remaining shows came under scrutiny.
Macklemore has now confirmed that he has been removed from the tour. In a statement on Monday, he defended his comments, said the Palestinian people in Gaza are the real victims and acknowledged the difficult position Sheeran was in.
Sheeran, however, has not publicly commented on Macklemore’s removal. It is also not yet clear who will replace the rapper for the remaining dates.
So, what exactly happened?
Why Was Macklemore Dropped From Ed Sheeran’s Tour?
The controversy began on September 4, when Macklemore performed at Sheeran’s concert at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The rapper, who has been a vocal supporter of Palestinians, told the crowd that one of the reasons he wanted to join the tour was to use his platform to speak about Gaza.
He said, “A big part of the reason why I wanted to do this tour in the first place is so that I could stand up in stadiums like this and say two words that are very, very dear to my heart: Free Palestine.”
Macklemore then performed “Hind’s Hall”, his protest song addressing Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, while footage depicting the devastation in Gaza was displayed on the stadium’s screens.
The performance immediately drew criticism.
Campaign group StopAntisemitism accused Macklemore of bringing political messaging into a concert, saying, “Jewish fans bought tickets to see Ed Sheeran sing… not to be ambushed by Macklemore’s anti-Israel propaganda.”
What Did Macklemore Say To Jewish Fans At His Next Concert?
Macklemore returned to the stage the following night and directly addressed Jewish members of the audience. He attempted to draw a distinction between criticism of Israel and hostility towards Jewish people. “Criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide, is in no way a criticism of you,” he said.
He also said he wanted people in Gaza and the West Bank to know they had not been forgotten. The remarks, however, did not end the backlash. The Israeli-American Council subsequently launched a petition calling for Macklemore to be removed from the tour.
“This was an Ed Sheeran concert – not a political rally, not a protest, and not an activist event,” the organisation said, accusing Macklemore of using “biased messaging and disputed claims.”
Did Venues Force Macklemore Off The Tour?
Tour promoter Messina Touring Group told Rolling Stone that venues had informed the company they would not allow Macklemore to perform. The promoter said this could have resulted in the cancellation of the tour and affected hundreds of thousands of fans.
American businessman Robert Kraft, who owns Gillette Stadium, said he had banned Macklemore from the venue because it would not “provide a platform for hate speech.” Kraft also accused the rapper of having a “broader history of antisemitic rhetoric.”
At the same time, Kraft said he agreed that too many lives had been lost and that there had been too much suffering in the region. “I agree with Macklemore, too many lives have been lost and there has been too much suffering, but only sharing selective information and ignoring the actions of Hamas is not honest and only advances more divisiveness and hate,” Kraft said.
What Happened Between Macklemore And Ed Sheeran?
Macklemore has now confirmed that he is no longer part of the tour. However, Ed Sheeran has not publicly explained his position or commented on the decision.
Macklemore said he empathised with the difficult position Sheeran was in, but argued that remaining silent also has consequences.
He wrote, “Taking a side can cost you. Money, brand deals, sponsorships, festivals, private shows, relationships and access. I’ve lost all of those things. But there is no neutral position between the oppressor and the oppressed,”
Macklemore’s comments make clear that he does not intend to walk back his position. Instead, he has presented his removal from the tour as another professional consequence of speaking publicly about Palestine.
What Did Macklemore Say About The Antisemitism Accusations?
The rapper also addressed accusations that criticism of Israel or Zionism crossed into antisemitism. He argued that the accusation itself was increasingly being used to discourage criticism of Israel.
Macklemore wrote, “one of the most effective ways to enforce silence has been to weaponize the accusation of antisemitism”.
He continued, “When criticizing Israel, opposing Zionism or saying “Free Palestine” gets conflated with hatred of Jewish people, it doesn’t protect Jewish people. It protects Israel from accountability.”
His comments are likely to fuel further debate, particularly because the controversy involves both criticism of Israeli government and military actions and accusations of antisemitism.
What Happened In Gaza?
The dispute comes against the backdrop of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. On October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attackers launched an unprecedented assault on southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli authorities. Israel subsequently launched a military campaign in Gaza.
More than 73,780 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry. The United Nations has said the ministry’s casualty figures are generally considered reliable, while noting the difficulty of independently verifying figures during the conflict.
The war and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza have become a major subject of international debate with Macklemore among the musicians who have publicly advocated for Palestinians.
Will Macklemore Be Replaced On Ed Sheeran’s Tour?
For now, it is unclear who will replace Macklemore as the opening act for the remaining US dates. What is clear is that the rapper will no longer be part of the Loop Tour following the controversy surrounding his onstage political comments. For Macklemore, however, the decision has not changed his position.
