Macklemore Dropped as Opener on Ed Sheeran’s Tour Over Free Palestine Comments

Macklemore has been dropped as the opening act for the remainder of Ed Sheeran’s stadium tour, according to Rolling Stone, after several venues allegedly threatened to cancel shows over Macklemore’s participation.

“As the concert promoter for Ed Sheeran’s US ‘Loop Tour,’ we have been notified by venues on the upcoming US tour dates that they will not allow a concert to take place with Macklemore on the lineup, which would result in the cancellation of the tour and impact hundreds of thousands of fans. After discussions with stakeholders, Macklemore will not be performing on the remaining support dates,” Messina Touring Group told Rolling Stone in a statement.

While opening for Macklemore during a pair of concerts at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, earlier this month, the rapper expressed his support for a free Palestine, telling the crowd: “One of the reasons why I wanted to come on this tour was because I wanted to stand up here on stages in stadiums across America and say two words that are very near and dear to my heart: ‘Free Palestine.’ I said, ‘Free Palestine!’ I want those words to be loud and clear so that people from Gaza, all the way to the occupied West Bank know that we have not forgotten them.”

Macklemore then introduced a performance of his next song, “Hind’s Hall,” explaining that it “was inspired by the bravery of Columbia University students who led an encampment movement that mobilized the entire world. Opened up hearts, myself included,” he continued. “So thank you to those students that risked their diplomas, that risked their tuition, that risked their scholarships, that stood up and said, ‘No.’ CUAD students, Students for Justice in Palestine, and Jewish Voice for Peace. Thank you guys.”

“To all of my Jewish brothers and sisters: Criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide in no way is a criticism of you,” Mackemore added. “My message is for peace. Love. For all human beings to be treated with dignity, respect, and equality. So I say free Palestine. I say free Lebanon. I say free Cuba. I say free Congo, free Sudan, free all people in America living in fear over this terrorist organization ICE. None of us will be free until we are all free.”

Macklemore’s remarks were condemned by the Israeli American Council, which released a petition demanding that Sheeran drop Macklemore from the remainder of his tour. “The issue is not whether Macklemore has the right to hold political views,” the petition reads. “The question is where the line should be drawn when an opening act uses a global concert platform to advance a one-sided political agenda.” Both P!NK and Boy George also criticized Macklemore on their respective social media accounts.

Macklemore was slated to appear at eight of the final 10 shows on Macklemore’s US tour, which is set to resume on Friday, September 19th in Philadelphia.

This is a developing story…