Ed Sheeran removes Macklemore from tour after “Free Palestine” comments; support acts withdraw

Is Ed Sheeran’s career in tatters over the Macklemore controversy? (Picture: Getty) Ed Sheeran is undeniably facing the biggest crisis of his career to date.  Long considered pop’s golden boy, Sheeran, 35, has enjoyed a pretty blemish-free career for more than a decade, but a contentious political scandal has left a stain on his reputation. For how long it remains, though, is the burning question.  It all kicked off with the September 4 and 5 shows on Sheeran’s Loop Tour in New Jersey, when opening act Macklemore performed his song Hind’s Hall in support of Palestine, condemning Israel’s military force in Gaza.  Criticism against Macklemore, real name Benjamin Hammond Haggerty, began stirring and reached global attention when pop star Pink, who is Jewish, publicly called the Thrift Shop rapper out for his controversial speech.  Macklemore, 43, then announced that he had been removed from the tour, sharing a lengthy statement via Instagram in which he claimed Sheeran had been contacted by stadium bosses and told that the tour could not continue to go ahead with the rapper still attached to it as an opener. In solidarity with Macklemore, all four of the tour’s support acts dropped out.  Sheeran eventually broke his silence and explained that the decision to remove Macklemore was out of his hands and with stadium bosses, notably Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft. The Shape of You singer added that he is ‘appalled by the conflict between Israel and Palestine’ and that the ‘suffering and pain caused on both sides is a human tragedy.’  Experts agree that Sheeran will be able to recover from the scandal (Picture: Getty Images) Macklemore took a stand for Palestine at Sheeran’s show sparking chaos (Picture: Rex Features) He has also donated at least $1million to humanitarian aid.  However, for all Sheeran’s efforts in making amends, the criticism has been extremely loud, with even other celebrities, such as Paloma Faith and Roger Waters, publicly slamming him.  It seems no matter what move he makes, Sheeran will struggle to appease all sides. So, how on Earth does the man once known as music’s most humble crooner even begin to repair his image?  ‘You’d be forgiven for thinking he made a colossal error by releasing the statement, but I actually think that’s grossly unfair,’ argued Paul MacKenzie Cummins, reputation management and personal branding at Clearly PR.  Speaking to Metro, he continued: ‘If he had issued a shorter, more concise statement, that would have failed to communicate the gravity of the situation and the enormity of the dilemma that he was facing. Because this was not just about him; this was about everyone in his support network – we’re talking hundreds of people who rely and depend on their livelihood from tours like this going ahead.  ‘I think he actually handled it well despite what the critics are saying.’  Sheeran has typically positioned himself as an apolitical artist despite being vocal about certain causes such as Ukraine and Black Lives Matter in the past. While crisis expert Paul believes it would be an ‘abandonment of what part of his brand has been about’ to start speaking out about the Israel-Palestine conflict, he does feel that Sheeran should have had greater awareness of Macklemore’s very public pro-Palestinian stance.  https://www.instagram.com/p/DdT-6KGAtuI/?img_index=1 ‘I think there’s a degree of naivety on Ed Sheeran. The reality is, whoever you bring on tour with you, they to a degree are going to be a reflection of your own personal brand and he should have known,’ he said.  ‘There does seem to be a disconnect, certainly a lack of communication to actually manage expectations on both sides. Macklemore also had the responsibility to say, “This is what I say in my performances now; how do you feel about that? Will this go down well with your audience?”’  Many critics have taken issue with Sheeran putting the onus on tour promoters for the decision to axe Macklemore from the tour, but Paul strongly refutes the idea that he was ‘trying to pass the blame.’  Megan Dooley, PR expert and head of branding at TAL Agency, disagrees and argues that ‘passing the buck doesn’t fly with people now.’  To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Up Next Previous Page Next Page She told us: ‘From a PR perspective, there’s a case for both sides; he’s going to lose popularity either way.  ‘He’s going to need to put his hands up and admit he’s messed up a bit because staying neutral has not protected him. People aren’t mad at him because he’s got no opinion – people are having a pop because he took an action that looked like he’d chosen a side in dropping Macklemore, but then he was like, “I’ve not picked a side”. Well, you have through your actions.  ‘His actions and his statements need to line up. It’s that inconsistency – not his neutrality.’  The Loop Tour is expected to resume on Saturday night in Philadelphia, despite increasing debate over whether it should be cancelled and fans refunded. Replacement support acts have not been announced, and there’s been no mention from the singer’s team on what ticket-holders can expect in light of recent developments. If it does go ahead, all eyes and ears will be pricked to see whether Sheeran chooses to address the furore or ignore it and focus on the music.  But what should he do?  Comment nowDo you think Ed Sheeran’s career can recover from the controversy? Comment Now ‘I don’t think there’s any harm in giving a nod to what’s happened, making a reference to it at the top of the show after the first or second song. If he is going to say anything, he’s got to keep it short, sweet, very simple and just crack on. The message has to be positive,’ Peter suggested.  Megan agreed that the show must go on: ‘He doesn’t necessarily need to stop performing and disappear from the spotlight; he just needs to handle it properly, or he’s going to get himself into more problems in the future.  ‘He’s not done anything hugely offensive, but he’s just failed to be consistent and communicate. People have done far worse, but it’s all about being genuine now. He’s got the popularity to survive it; it’s just how he handles it.’  ‘Screams will subside,’ Peter stated, making clear that he doesn’t feel Sheeran’s reputation is in tatters.  ‘He’s Ed Sheeran for Christ’s sake,’ Peter stated. ‘It’s going to take a lot more than this to knock him off wherever he is right now. His future reputation is assured.’ Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source

Ed Sheeran on stage in 2024The remaining support acts on Ed Sheeran’s ongoing world tour have announced they have pulled out following the news that Macklemore had been dropped from its line-up, as have the Shape Of You singer’s backing band.On Tuesday night, musicians Lukas Graham, Finneas and Aaron Rowe all shared statements claiming they had withdrawn from Ed’s tour.“It’s hard to watch families in other parts of the world burying the people they love,” the Danish group wrote. “We should be able to speak about war, about civilians being killed, about children who deserve to grow up. Wherever they live. Whatever flag flies over them.”The statement continued: “I grew up in Christiania, a small community in Denmark where speaking your mind was part of everyday life. Having more money didn’t make your opinion worth more than anyone else’s.“Money doesn’t give you the right to own the conversation. Nobody’s bank balance should decide who gets to speak or which suffering we’re allowed to acknowledge. I love Ed, and I’m grateful for everything we’ve shared. That hasn’t changed.“But I can’t put these words out into the world and carry on with this tour as things stand. We’re withdrawing from the remaining dates. I’m sorry we won’t be there. This is a difficult decision, but it’s one I need to stand by.”View this post on InstagramGrammy winner Finneas also said: “Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed.“I have decided to withdraw from my upcoming tour dates with Ed Sheeran. I stand with Palestine and its people.”View this post on InstagramMeanwhile, Aaron Rowe’s statement read: “I have made the decision to withdraw as a support act for Ed Sheeran’s The Loop North American Tour.“I don’t take the decision lightly. Ed has been a friend to me and has changed my life, I could never thank him enough for this. But as Irish people we know all too well about genocide, forced famine and violent occupation. I cannot stand by and allow billionaires to use their position of power to silence the rightful voices of those who speak up against Israeli genocide and who highlight the savage murder of children. I would lose all respect for myself to carry on as normal.”He added: “I need to be true to myself and my ancestors who resisted colonisation, and fought for a freedom that I enjoy today in Ireland. Free Palestine.”View this post on InstagramBeoga – who have now served as Ed’s touring backing band for a decade – also withdrew from his upcoming shows on Tuesday.They explained: “We have made the decision to depart as Ed Sheeran’s band on the remaining US Loop tour, following the silencing of Macklemore by zionist lobbies.“We are a traditional Irish band who never saw ourselves playing in stadiums of that size and that opportunity is not lost on us. We have been friends with Ed for over 10 years now and will continue to be. We believe in dialogue as a means of progressing the plight of the Palestinian people.”Beoga’s statement concluded: “We are Irish people who understand colonialism. As founding members of the Irish Artists For Palestine movement, we are committed activists for justice and will continue to be.“This whole episode is once again serving to distract from the real issue, over 1000 Palestinians have been killed since the most recent so-called ceasefire.“Up the workers. Free Palestine.”Read Beoga’s statement in full below:View this post on InstagramHuffPost UK has contacted Ed Sheeran’s team for comment.On Monday, it was announced that Macklemore would no longer be appearing as one of Ed’s opening acts on the British star’s Loop Tour, after the Can’t Hold Us rapper spoke out in solidarity with Palestine on stage.Earlier this month, the US star told Ed’s fans in New Jersey: “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’. I said, ‘free Palestine!’.“I want those words to be loud and clear, so that people all the way in Gaza, to the occupied West Bank, know that we have not forgotten about them.”View this post on InstagramReacting to the news he had been dropped from the tour, shortly afterwards, Macklemore shared a statement detailing alleged phone conversations he’d had with Ed in the preceding days.“Nothing I’m writing here is out of spite or because I want to tear down his character,” Macklemore wrote on Instagram. “But as I told Ed multiple times on the phone, our friendship can’t change my responsibility to tell the truth about what happened.“Last Monday, in the middle of all the media attention surrounding Pink and what I said [on stage], Ed told me that Robert Kraft called him. We were scheduled to play Gillette Stadium later this month, which is owned by the Kraft Group. Ed told me that Kraft said I would not be allowed to perform in his stadium.“Ed also told me that Kraft had rallied some of the other stadium owners and collectively they gave him an ultimatum: if Macklemore stays on the tour, you will not be allowed to play in our venues. Ed was in a fucked up position. He knew it. His typical apolitical stance was being challenged in a way it never had been before.“He told me that the words ‘Free Palestine’ and the image of the Palestinian flag were hurtful to a lot of people he spoke with. I told him that if those words were more offensive than tens of thousands of Palestinian children being killed by Israel, then there was a fundamental disconnect between where those people stood and where I stood. But he couldn’t get past his public facing, ‘I don’t take sides’.”Macklemore performing in 2024A day later, Ed broke his silence on the subject, claiming: “After Macklemore’s performances at my New Jersey shows, venues on my upcoming tour dates communicated that they would pull the shows if he was still supporting.“I was informed that this stance was based on how Macklemore conveyed part of his message during his performance, rather than on everything that was said. I spoke with the venues at length all week to try and build a bridge.“One of those people was Robert Kraft. I was also involved in direct talks with promoters along with activists on both sides to try and find a mutual resolution for all, but the venue’s and promoter’s decision was final.“Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter’s decision, it was not mine. Macklemore’s contract for the tour was with the promoter, not me. 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.”Ed also insisted: “I have always used my platform and music to bring people from all backgrounds and cultures together and this won’t ever change. Those who have been to one of my shows will know that they are about unity, joy, escapism, love and a place for everyone to feel welcome.“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.“There is a reason I do not use my professional platform for politics – my audience includes young people, often children, of all backgrounds. Those who come to my shows do not expect a political forum. I respect Macklemore’s strength of purpose to stand up and shout for what he believes. However, there is room for multiple approaches to the same end: peace.”View this post on InstagramRobert Kraft, meanwhile, told Rolling Stone that Macklemore’s removal from Ed’s tour was based on “recent actions, material shared from the stage during Ed Sheeran’s shows in New Jersey, and a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery that we believe has been deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community”.This is seemingly a reference to an incident in 2014, when Macklemore performed in an outfit many critics claimed was inspired by antisemitic tropes and imagery. The rapper later apologised, insisting this had not been his intention.“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,” Kraft added.“This decision is not about diminishing the suffering of innocent Palestinians or denying anyone the right to advocate on their behalf. Their pain and loss are real.”READ MORE:Macklemore Speaks Out After Being Dropped From Ed Sheeran's Tour Over Palestine SupportEd Sheeran Breaks Silence After Macklemore Is Dropped From His Tour

Ed Sheeran at the 2024 GrammysEd Sheeran has spoken out for the first time since Macklemore was dropped as his tour’s support act following comments the Grammy-winning rapper had made on stage in support of Palestine.On Tuesday afternoon, the Lego House singer shared a statement on Instagram, telling his followers that he felt it was “important that I set out some facts”.Writing in bullet points, he explained: “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.”Ed continued: “Macklemore asked to join my tour last year and I agreed, because I respect him as an artist. As with all my support acts, I agree that they play a setlist of their choosing.“After Macklemore’s performances at my New Jersey shows, venues on my upcoming tour dates communicated that they would pull the shows if he was still supporting.”During these New Jersey shows, Macklemore voiced his support for Palestine amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza, explaining: “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’. I said, ‘free Palestine!’.“I want those words to be loud and clear, so that people all the way in Gaza, to the occupied West Bank, know that we have not forgotten about them.”View this post on InstagramEd’s statement continued: “I was informed that this stance was based on how Macklemore conveyed part of his message during his performance, rather than on everything that was said. I spoke with the venues at length all week to try and build a bridge.“One of those people was Robert Kraft. I was also involved in direct talks with promoters along with activists on both sides to try and find a mutual resolution for all, but the venue’s and promoter’s decision was final.“Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter’s decision, it was not mine. Macklemore’s contract for the tour was with the promoter, not me. 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.”MacklemoreHe then insisted: “I have always used my platform and music to bring people from all backgrounds and cultures together and this won’t ever change. Those who have been to one of my shows will know that they are about unity, joy, escapism, love and a place for everyone to feel welcome.“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.“There is a reason I do not use my professional platform for politics – my audience includes young people, often children, of all backgrounds. Those who come to my shows do not expect a political forum. I respect Macklemore’s strength of purpose to stand up and shout for what he believes. However, there is room for multiple approaches to the same end: peace.”The chart-topping performer 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. If we only focus on shouting the loudest, nothing will ever change. There are different approaches to being an advocate for change.“I have spent this week trying to build bridges, to find a solution and unfortunately, was unable to do so. I know who I am, both as a person and as an artist, and those who know my heart know my values too.”View this post on InstagramMacklemore shared his own statement on Monday night, detailing alleged phone conversations he’d had with Ed in recent days.“Nothing I’m writing here is out of spite or because I want to tear down his character. But as I told Ed multiple times on the phone, our friendship can’t change my responsibility to tell the truth about what happened,” Macklemore claimed.“Last Monday, in the middle of all the media attention surrounding Pink and what I said [on stage], Ed told me that Robert Kraft called him. We were scheduled to play Gillette Stadium later this month, which is owned by the Kraft Group. Ed told me that Kraft said I would not be allowed to perform in his stadium.“Ed also told me that Kraft had rallied some of the other stadium owners and collectively they gave him an ultimatum: if Macklemore stays on the tour, you will not be allowed to play in our venues. Ed was in a fucked up position. He knew it. His typical apolitical stance was being challenged in a way it never had been before.“He told me that the words ‘Free Palestine’ and the image of the Palestinian flag were hurtful to a lot of people he spoke with. I told him that if those words were more offensive than tens of thousands of Palestinian children being killed by Israel, then there was a fundamental disconnect between where those people stood and where I stood. But he couldn’t get past his public facing, ‘I don’t take sides’.”Robert Kraft, meanwhile, told Rolling Stone that Macklemore’s removal from Ed’s tour was based on “recent actions, material shared from the stage during Ed Sheeran’s shows in New Jersey, and a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery that we believe has been deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community”.This is seemingly a reference to an incident in 2014, when Macklemore performed in an outfit many critics claimed was inspired by antisemitic tropes and imagery. The rapper later apologised, insisting this had not been his intention.“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,” Kraft added.“This decision is not about diminishing the suffering of innocent Palestinians or denying anyone the right to advocate on their behalf. Their pain and loss are real.”READ MORE:Macklemore Dropped As Ed Sheeran's Opening Act After Pro-Palestine Comments On StageMacklemore Speaks Out After Being Dropped From Ed Sheeran's Tour Over Palestine Support

Macklemore on stage in 2021Macklemore has spoken out for the first time since being dropped from Ed Sheeran’s current US tour due to comments he made on stage in support of Palestine.Earlier this month, the Grammy-winning rapper voiced his solidarity with Palestine amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East on stage in New Jersey, while serving as Ed’s opening act.“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’,” he told the crowd at the time. “I said, ‘free Palestine!’.“I want those words to be loud and clear, so that people all the way in Gaza, to the occupied West Bank, know that we have not forgotten about them.”View this post on InstagramWhen footage from this speech began doing the rounds online, it was met with a divided reaction, with the singer Pink resharing a graphic calling for Macklemore to apologise, and the Israeli American Council setting up a petition calling for the Thrift Store singer’s removal from the tour.On Monday night, it was confirmed that Macklemore would no longer be appearing as Ed’s opening act effective immediately, with the musician speaking out shortly afterwards in a lengthy Instagram statement.“I’m not sure how to start this. So I’m going to speak from the heart and share the truth,” he began. “Ed Sheeran and his team have made the decision to remove me from The Loop tour. But before I get into it, I want to say something that should be obvious. In this moment, I think it matters.”He wrote: “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. The men, women and children who have been killed, starved, displaced and forced to live through unimaginable violence. More than 20,000 children have been killed in Gaza alone. People are being killed today, and people will be killed tomorrow. I want to make sure that as I tell this story, we don’t lose sight of that.”Ed SheeranMacklemore continued: “Ed is my friend. I’ve known him for 13 years. We’ve shared late nights, studio sessions and stages. He has this infectious magic about him that I’ve grown to love. I consider him a brother. And because of that, we’ve had some difficult conversations this past week. The type of talks rooted in love and respect for one another that still end in a place of fundamental disagreement.“Nothing I’m writing here is out of spite or because I want to tear down his character. But as I told Ed multiple times on the phone, our friendship can’t change my responsibility to tell the truth about what happened.“Last Monday, in the middle of all the media attention surrounding Pink and what I said [on stage], Ed told me that Robert Kraft called him. We were scheduled to play Gillette Stadium later this month, which is owned by the Kraft Group. Ed told me that Kraft said I would not be allowed to perform in his stadium.“Ed also told me that Kraft had rallied some of the other stadium owners and collectively they gave him an ultimatum: if Macklemore stays on the tour, you will not be allowed to play in our venues. Ed was in a fucked up position. He knew it. His typical apolitical stance was being challenged in a way it never had been before.“He told me that the words ‘Free Palestine’ and the image of the Palestinian flag were hurtful to a lot of people he spoke with. I told him that if those words were more offensive than tens of thousands of Palestinian children being killed by Israel, then there was a fundamental disconnect between where those people stood and where I stood. But he couldn’t get past his public facing, ‘I don’t take sides’. And I get why people don’t. 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. When one side has the bombs and bottomless financial and military support from America, refusing to take a side doesn’t leave you in the middle.“What I said at MetLife I have been saying on stages around the world for almost three years. So why is it an issue now? Because now I’m sharing a stage with one of the biggest artists in the world, in some of the biggest stadiums in America. At a certain level of exposure, ‘Free Palestine’ becomes too much of a risk. If I kept doing the shows, saying ‘Free Palestine’, with Ed implicitly supporting it, the crowd getting loud and showing undeniable support for Palestinian liberation, what artist might speak out next? The stage becomes resistance.“Maybe that’s why this time it became so important to silence me. And one of the most effective ways to enforce that silence has been to weaponise the accusation of antisemitism.”“Antisemitism is real,” Macklemore continued. “And that is exactly why the word matters too much to be used as a shield against criticism of the Israeli state. When criticising Israel, opposing Zionism or saying ‘Free Palestine’ gets conflated with hatred of Jewish people, it doesn’t protect Jewish people. It protects Israel from accountability.”He then insisted: “I hope this isn’t the end of my relationship with Ed. Thirteen years of friendship doesn’t disappear because of one painful disagreement.“I hope we both continue listening, studying what is happening in Palestine and wrestling with what neutrality means in a moment like this. My door will always be open to continuing that conversation.”Read Macklemore’s full statement below:View this post on InstagramHuffPost UK contacted Ed Sheeran’s team on Monday evening but did not receive a response.Robert Kraft told Rolling Stone that Macklemore’s removal from Ed Sheeran’s tour was based on “recent actions, material shared from the stage during Ed Sheeran’s shows in New Jersey, and a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery that we believe has been deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community”.In 2014, Macklemore performed in an outfit that led many critics to claim was inspired by antisemitic tropes and imagery. The rapper later apologised, insisting this had not been his intention.“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,” Kraft added in his latest statement.“This decision is not about diminishing the suffering of innocent Palestinians or denying anyone the right to advocate on their behalf. Their pain and loss are real.”Ed’s Loop Tour – in support of his 2025 album Play – continues on Saturday night in Philadelphia.READ MORE:Macklemore Dropped As Ed Sheeran's Opening Act After Pro-Palestine Comments On StageJane Fonda Brands Antisemitism Claims Against Mark Ruffalo A 'Smear'Hannah Einbinder: 'I See So Many People With Far More Influence Than Me Not Speaking Out'