Ed Sheeran, Macklemore and the US tour controversy: What happened?
IN BRIEF
- Sheeran says his concerts aren’t a “political forum”, but the Macklemore fallout has put that position under scrutiny.
- What began with Macklemore saying “Free Palestine” on stage has grown into a wider dispute involving several artists.
Ed Sheeran has built one of the world’s biggest music careers while largely avoiding one of the more divisive parts of modern celebrity: politics.
The English singer has spoken publicly about some causes over the years, including performing at a major benefit concert for Ukraine following Russia’s 2022 invasion. But he has generally resisted using his concerts as a political platform, something he says is deliberate.
Now, Macklemore’s removal from his United States tour has drawn Sheeran into a political debate he has largely sought to avoid.
In less than two weeks, Macklemore has made a high-profile pro-Palestinian speech while opening for Sheeran, been removed from his remaining US tour dates, and been followed out the door by four other acts.
Sheeran has insisted the decision to remove the American rapper wasn’t his and says he spent days trying to prevent it.
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But the fallout has nevertheless dragged the 35-year-old singer into a highly charged debate over the Israel-Gaza conflict, antisemitism and the role, or responsibility, of artists to use their platforms to take a political stand.
And it has forced Sheeran to publicly explain why, unlike Macklemore, he generally chooses not to.
“I have my personal views on this devastating conflict,” Sheeran wrote in a lengthy statement posted to Instagram this week.
“Just because I choose not to speak publicly, it doesn’t mean I don’t have them, and it doesn’t mean I don’t care.”
Embroiled in the controversy
The dispute began on 4 September, when Macklemore was performing as a support act on Sheeran’s Loop Tour at a New Jersey stadium.
Introducing his 2024 protest song Hind’s Hall, the rapper told the crowd that part of the reason he wanted to join the tour was to use its enormous stadium audiences to amplify his support for Palestinians.
“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’,” Macklemore said.
The following day, he again addressed the conflict, telling Jewish members of the audience that his criticism of Israel was not criticism of them.
The remarks sparked a backlash, with the Israeli-American Council launching a petition calling for Macklemore to be removed from the tour, arguing Sheeran’s stage should not be used for “one-sided political propaganda”.
Macklemore has rejected accusations that his comments were antisemitic.
By Monday, he was off the tour. Promoter Messina Touring Group said venue owners hosting upcoming dates had indicated they would not allow shows featuring Macklemore to proceed.
Sheeran’s attempt to stay out of politics
The episode has highlighted the starkly different approaches the two artists take to their public platforms.
Macklemore has become increasingly outspoken about Gaza and has framed speaking about Palestinians from the stage as a moral obligation.
Sheeran, meanwhile, said this week that people attending his concerts “do not expect a political forum”.
“I respect Macklemore’s strength of purpose to stand up and shout for what he believes,” he said.
“However, there is room for multiple approaches to the same end: peace.”
Sheeran said he instead wants his shows to provide “safety and sanctuary” and bring together people from different backgrounds.
That doesn’t mean Sheeran has always avoided political issues or humanitarian causes. In 2022, he performed at the televised Concert for Ukraine, which raised millions for people affected by Russia’s invasion. He has also previously spoken publicly on issues including Brexit and LGBTQ+ equality.
But the singer has long resisted being characterised primarily as a political artist.
‘I am not complicit’
Sheeran has also rejected suggestions he personally silenced Macklemore.
He said Macklemore had been allowed to choose his own setlist and that his contract for the tour was with the promoter.
Sheeran said he spent the week speaking with venues and was involved in discussions with promoters and activists on both sides in an effort to find a solution that would allow the tour to continue.
Ultimately, he said, the venues and promoter made the final decision.
“Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter’s decision, it was not mine,” Sheeran said.
“I am not complicit.”
Artists walk away from Sheeran’s tour
The dispute has now spread beyond Macklemore, with several artists withdrawing from Sheeran’s tour in solidarity.
According to Reuters, singer-songwriter Finneas, Danish band Lukas Graham and Irish singer Aaron Rowe have pulled out, while Irish band Beoga — which had been serving as Sheeran’s touring band — is also leaving.
“Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed,” Finneas said.
Rowe and Beoga both invoked Ireland’s history in explaining their decisions.
Beoga said its members were “Irish people who understand colonialism” and pointed to their involvement with the Irish Artists for Palestine movement.
Rowe, who described Sheeran as a friend who had changed his life, said he could not stand by while powerful people silenced those who spoke out.
Lukas Graham described its withdrawal as a “difficult decision”, while arguing that wealth should not determine who was able to participate in public debate.
Why was Macklemore removed?
Macklemore has long publicly supported Palestinians and criticised Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and its occupation of the West Bank.
In 2024, he released the protest song Hind’s Hall in solidarity with pro-Palestinian demonstrators and in memory of five-year-old Palestinian girl Hind Rajab, who was killed in Gaza.
Macklemore has claimed New England Patriots NFL team owner Robert Kraft, whose Massachusetts stadium is hosting two upcoming Sheeran concerts, rallied stadium owners against his involvement in the tour.
Kraft has said he has dedicated significant time to fighting hate and antisemitism and felt a responsibility to intervene when he believed “that line has been crossed”. Reuters reported Kraft had not publicly addressed Macklemore’s specific claim that he rallied other stadium owners.
Pro-Israeli groups and US singer Pink, who is Jewish, have also criticised Macklemore, arguing comments made at concerts could compromise the safety of Jewish and pro-Israeli attendees.
Critics have also pointed to a 2014 appearance in which Macklemore wore a costume featuring a black wig, beard and fake hooked nose, which was criticised for invoking antisemitic stereotypes. Macklemore later apologised.
Macklemore has denied his recent comments were antisemitic, arguing that criticism of Israel’s actions should not be conflated with antisemitism.
Sheeran’s US tour is scheduled to resume in Philadelphia on 19 September.
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