Ed Sheeran addressed recent speculation about why rapper Macklemore was removed from his stadium tour. In an Instagram post on Tuesday, Sheeran said the decision to drop Macklemore was made solely by the tour’s promoter, the Messina Touring Group, and not by the singer himself.
“Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter’s decision, it was not mine,” Sheeran wrote. “I would never let down the fans who had made plans, nor would I abandon the touring crew and the other support acts and musicians who rely on me for work and to make a living.”
Sheeran refuses to weigh in on the Gaza conflict
Sheeran also said he would not be drawn into a public discussion about the war in Gaza, noting that concertgoers do not expect a political forum at his shows. “I respect Macklemore’s strength of purpose to stand up and shout for what he believes,” Sheeran added, “however, there is room for multiple approaches to the same end: peace. 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.”
The promoter did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and Macklemore’s publicist also did not reply.
Background on Macklemore’s comments
Macklemore was removed after he shouted “Free Palestine!” during a September 5 performance at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium, introducing his protest song “Hind’s Hall.” He told his Instagram followers that several U.S. venues had told the promoter they would prohibit him from performing as Sheeran’s opening act, citing pressure from Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium.
In a statement, Kraft said the cancellation resulted from Macklemore’s recent remarks and a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric that the Kraft Group finds offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community.
Sheeran said he had spoken with the venues at length all week to try to build a bridge, but the venue’s and promoter’s decision was final. The tour will continue with Lukas Graham and Aaron Rowe added to the bill, and upcoming stops include Gillette Stadium, Atlanta’s Mercedes‑Benz Stadium and Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Stadium.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
