In September 2026, English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran and his team removed American rapper Macklemore as a supporting act from Sheeran's Loop Tour after Macklemore's onstage pro-Palestine statements during two performances in New Jersey. The removal came after pressure from pro-Israel advocacy groups and venue owners, including American businessman and venue owner Robert Kraft. On September 14, Macklemore and Kraft published statements on social media articulating their views on the matter, with a statement from Sheeran published the following day. By September 15, all the remaining opening acts for the tour—including Aaron Rowe, Finneas, and Lukas Graham, as well as Irish band Beoga—had withdrawn in solidarity with Macklemore and the Palestinian people.
Background Macklemore has expressed pro-Palestinian views during the Gaza war, including signing the Artists4Ceasefire open letter and saying that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. In May 2024, he released "Hind's Hall", a protest song in support of the April 2024 Gaza solidarity protests at Columbia University and the "Hind's Hall" occupation of Hamilton Hall, renamed by protestors in honor of Hind Rajab, who was killed alongside members of her family by Israel Defense Forces soldiers in 2024. All profits from the song were donated to UNRWA. On August 24, 2026, Macklemore was confirmed as an opening act for Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour.
Sheeran has used his music and image to support multiple causes, such as performing in March 2022 as the headliner for the Concert for Ukraine benefit concert. In October 2022, Sheeran performed at Kraft's wedding. In September 2024, Sheeran attended the Global Citizen Festival in New York and was photographed meeting former Israeli hostage Noa Argamani.
Macklemore speeches On September 4, 2026, while opening for Ed Sheeran at MetLife Stadium, Macklemore made a speech where he declared "Free Palestine". The statement was followed by a performance of "Hind's Hall". In his speech, he said, "The people all the way in Gaza to the occupied West Bank know that we have not forgotten about them. I say free Palestine. I say free Lebanon. Free Cuba to the Congo to Sudan to Iran".
After this, representatives for multiple NFL team and stadium owners contacted Sheeran's promoter Messina Touring Group with concerns about hate speech, specifically the phrase "Free Palestine" and the song "Hind's Hall"; they were told in response that Macklemore would not mention Palestine on stage again.
On the second night, Macklemore again declared "Free Palestine", and also addressed Jewish people in the audience, saying, "Criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide, is in no way a criticism of you", adding that he wanted people in Gaza and the West Bank to know they had not been forgotten. He also criticized the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), saying, "free all people in America living in fear over this terrorist organization".
Removal of Macklemore
On September6, the Israeli-American Council petitioned for Ed Sheeran to remove Macklemore from his tour, stating on social media: "Ed Sheeran, do not allow your stage to be used to divide people or spread one-sided political propaganda!" The following day, Macklemore shared a video of his performance at the stadium with the caption: "Wanting all humans to be treated equal should never be controversial."
American singer Pink reshared a post from the pro-Israel group StopAntisemitism criticizing Macklemore for his speech. The post described Macklemore's "Free Palestine" message as "anti-Israel propaganda", accused him of falsely describing Israel's actions as genocide, and characterised his appearance in a keffiyeh as an affront to Jewish fans attending the concert. Following backlash over this repost, Pink responded on September11 that she was "standing up for [her] own people", as Pink is Jewish. In response to Pink's actions regarding Macklemore's pro-Palestinian stance, a petition calling for her removal as a UNICEF ambassador had amassed more than 162,000 signatures by September 22. The petition's organizers said UNICEF ambassadors should meet the "highest standards of neutrality and compassion" when addressing the impact of conflict on children. Actor Javier Bardem shared multiple posts on Instagram in support of the petition, including posts encouraging his followers to sign a Change.org petition calling for Pink's dismissal as a UNICEF ambassador.
The Combat Antisemitism Movement also pressured for his removal, citing a May2014 concert where he dressed up as a character with a prosthetic nose, which critics described as a Jewish caricature; within days of the concert, Macklemore had apologized for wearing the costume and denied antisemitic intent.
Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft called Sheeran and told him during a 40-minute conversation that he, along with fellow NFL owners Arthur Blank, David Tepper, and Jeffrey Lurie, considered Macklemore's comments to be hate speech and would cancel shows at their venues were Macklemore to stay on the tour. On September14, Messina Touring Group announced that Macklemore would no longer perform on the remaining U.S. dates, stating that several venues had refused to allow concerts to proceed with him on the lineup.
Statements
Macklemore On September 14, Macklemore announced his removal from the tour in an Instagram post nearly 1,000 words long. He said it came after a week of "difficult conversations" with Sheeran that ended "in a place of fundamental disagreement." In his statement, Macklemore said: "Before I get into it, I want to say something that should be obvious. In this moment I think it matters. I am not a victim. Ed Sheeran is not a victim. Pink is not a victim. We have careers, money, opportunities, safety and audiences around the world. Whatever consequences any of us face for what we say, we get to go home to our families. The victims are the Palestinian people." Macklemore said that Sheeran had told him Robert Kraft, whose Kraft Group owns Gillette Stadium, had barred him from performing there and persuaded other stadium owners to issue a similar ultimatum. Macklemore criticized Sheeran for not taking a stance on Gaza, writing: "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."
On September16, Macklemore announced that he would donate $1million, his entire net earnings from Sheeran's tour, to six organizations supporting Palestinians: the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, HEAL Palestine, Gaza Soup Kitchen, Medical Aid for Palestinians, American Near East Refugee Aid, and the UNRWA USA National Committee. He said he wanted to "bring the conversation back where it belongs," writing, "Whatever we disagree about, perhaps we can agree on this: Palestinian lives are worth protection. A Palestinian life is no less valuable than any life on this earth." Macklemore challenged Kraft to match the donation; later that day, Kraft announced a $2million donation of his own without specifying the beneficiaries.
In his statement, Macklemore said he wanted to "center the parents carrying their children into hospitals without the basic resources to treat them, and the physicians, paramedics, journalists and aid workers who keep going back in," as well as "the organizers and activists who have paid real costs for standing with Palestine," whose risk he said was "of a far different order than mine." He described donating money as "one of the least costly forms of solidarity" available to him, saying he was doing so because the recipient organizations were "doing the work while much of the world debates it." Macklemore added that "aid alone cannot address the conditions that make it necessary," calling the situation in Gaza and the West Bank "a manmade injustice" requiring "immediate political change." He also referenced the death of 15-year-old Muhammad al-Zinati, whom was killed in an Israeli strike on September15 while attempting to help an injured aid worker.
On September 24, Macklemore announced that he had set his own tour in support of Palestine and would donate ticket sales to organizations supporting Palestinians.
Robert Kraft
Hours after Macklemore's statement, Robert Kraft released a statement in which he spoke of his long fight against antisemitism, agreed with Macklemore on the suffering of the Palestinians, evoked the responsibility of Hamas, invited Macklemore to meet, and said they had "peace for all people" as a common goal.
In his statement Kraft said: "Much of my time and attention for the last decade has been focused on the fight against antisemitism and hate of all kinds, and I feel a responsibility to stand up when I believe that line has been crossed." Kraft added that "This decision is not about diminishing the suffering of innocent Palestinians or denying anyone the right to advocate on their behalf," and that, "Their pain and loss is real." Kraft argued that support for Palestinians "should not come at the expense of the Jewish community or obscure the responsibility of Hamas, a United States and globally … designated terrorist organization whose horrific actions have caused immeasurable suffering for Palestinians and Israelis alike." Kraft added, "I would welcome the opportunity to sit down with Macklemore and discuss the facts, because ultimately our goal is the same — peace for all people, an end to suffering, and an end to all hate."
According to Adam Reilly, writing for WGBH, "Kraft did not dispute Macklemore's claims" and "seemed to allude to Macklemore's 2014 performance in a costume that was widely regarded as antisemitic in explaining Kraft's actions." Kraft's statement did not address whether or not he had lobbied other stadium owners.
The Washington Times reported that Kraft has donated tens of millions of dollars to organizations combating antisemitism, including more than $20 million to the "Stand Up to Jewish Hate" campaign. The outlet also noted that, separate from Macklemore's claim that Kraft organized a pressure campaign among venue owners, several venues independently notified the tour's promoter that they would not host a show with Macklemore on the bill, and that Kraft had not addressed whether he had personally organized that pressure.
Ed Sheeran In a September 15 post on Instagram, Sheeran said, "I am appalled by the conflict between Israel and Palestine. The suffering and pain caused on both sides is a human tragedy. There are too many wars across the world causing immeasurable pain, none of which should be tolerated." He added that Macklemore's removal was "the promoter's decision, it was not mine," referring to Messina Touring Group. Sheeran added: "I choose to use my fame and platform to be a place of safety and sanctuary, to maintain diplomacy and keep conversations open, not closed".
Sheeran said, "I am not complicit. I have my personal views on this devastating conflict. 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. Nor does it mean I don't support causes in my own, personal way." September 19 On September 19 at the Philadelphia stop on his tour, Sheeran described it as "one of the worst weeks of his life", and "you really find out who your friends are". He added "But the root of it is love. And if this tour ends, love doesn't win. Love doesn't win. You know? I can't let you guys down. That's why I'm here tonight, on my own, for you guys."