Ed Sheeran has officially addressed the decision to remove Macklemore from his U.S. Loop tour, pinning the move entirely on the tour promoter and the venues involved, Variety reported. The singer clarified that he was not the one who made the call to drop the rapper, who had previously been tapped to open for him on the remainder of his stadium run.
The situation escalated after Macklemore used his opening sets at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on September 4 and September 5 to make comments regarding the conflict between Israel and Palestine. During these performances, he told the crowd he wanted people in Gaza and the occupied West Bank to know they had not been forgotten. He also performed his song Hind’s Hall while images of destruction in Gaza were displayed on the stadium screens.
These actions drew significant attention, including a petition from the Israeli American Council that argued the concert was not a political rally or a protest. Following the performances, the Messina Touring Group, which promotes the tour, announced on Monday that Macklemore would no longer be on the lineup.
The singer took the opportunity to outline his own philosophy regarding his platform
The promoter stated that venues on the upcoming tour schedule threatened to pull the shows entirely if the rapper remained on the bill. According to the Messina Touring Group, this would have resulted in the cancellation of the tour, impacting hundreds of thousands of fans.
Sheeran explained that he spent the week speaking with venues and promoters in an effort to bridge the divide, noting that he even held talks with Robert Kraft. Despite these efforts, the venues and the promoter reached a final decision that left him with no alternative.
“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,” Sheeran stated. He emphasized that he would not abandon his touring crew, musicians, or the fans who had already made plans to attend.
Sheeran noted that he prefers to keep his professional space focused on unity, joy, and escapism, as his audience often includes young children from all backgrounds. While he expressed respect for Macklemore’s conviction, he argued that there are different ways to advocate for change.
“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,” he said. He further remarked, “If we only focus on shouting the loudest, nothing will ever change. There are different approaches to being an advocate for change.”
Macklemore was originally scheduled to perform at eight of the 10 remaining shows on the tour, which is set to resume on September 19 in Philadelphia. The rapper had been slated for major venues including Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, and Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Sheeran maintained that his goal has always been to bring people together, and he expressed disappointment that he was unable to find a mutual resolution that satisfied all stakeholders. “I know who I am, both as a person and as an artist, and those who know my heart know my values too,” he said.
Published: Sep 15, 2026 04:28 pm