Raymond James Stadium in Tampa will move forward with Ed Sheeran’s November 7 concert without rapper Macklemore, after local venues raised objections to his recent pro‑Palestine comments.

Background

Macklemore was slated to open for Sheeran as part of the final stop of the North American leg of the Loop Tour. While performing at MetLife Stadium earlier this month, he told the crowd, “I say Free Palestine, I say free Lebanon,” sparking a wave of online reaction.

Venue response

Messina Touring Group, the promoter for the tour, said several U.S. venues communicated that they would not allow concerts to proceed with Macklemore on the bill. The promoter warned that keeping him could have forced cancellations affecting hundreds of thousands of fans.

Macklemore’s reaction

In an Instagram post, Macklemore expressed disappointment but hoped the dispute would not end his friendship with Sheeran. He wrote, “I hope this isn’t the end of my relationship with Ed. Thirteen years of friendship doesn’t disappear because of one painful disagreement,” and added that he and Sheeran should continue to listen and study what is happening in Palestine.

Official statements

The Tampa Sports Authority confirmed Macklemore is no longer part of the stadium show. The authority noted the venue operates under free‑speech principles, but the decision reflects the concerns raised by venue operators.

Other reactions

Pop singer Pink, who has previously criticized Macklemore, clarified she was not calling for his removal, though she said parts of his performance made some Jewish concertgoers feel unsafe.

What’s next

The concert will continue as planned on November 7, with Lukas Graham and Aaron Rowe still scheduled to perform. No comment has been received from Ed Sheeran regarding the lineup change.

Original reporting: Tampa Bay Florida News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.