Macklemore Speaks Out After Being Dropped From Ed Sheeran Tour, Says Singer Claimed That Saying ‘Free Palestine’ Was ‘Hurtful to a Lot of People’

Macklemore has broken his silence after being pulled from the remaining U.S. shows on Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour, a decision that followed his onstage remarks about Palestine. In a lengthy Instagram statement, the rapper pointed the finger squarely at New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, alleging the billionaire pressured other stadium operators to keep him off their stages. Macklemore insisted that neither Sheeran nor Pink—who had also weighed in on his comments—bore responsibility for the move. Kraft, the 83-year-old founder of the Kraft Group, has owned the Patriots since 1994 and is a prominent philanthropist whose foundation has donated extensively to Jewish causes in Israel and the United States.

In his post, Macklemore said he felt compelled to speak candidly. He wrote that Sheeran and his team had decided to remove him from the Loop tour, and he needed to state what he saw as an undeniable fact: none of the celebrities involved—himself, Sheeran, or Pink—are victims. All three, he noted, enjoy successful careers, financial stability, opportunities, safety, and global fanbases, and no matter what fallout they face for their words, they can still return home to their families. The true victims, he stressed, are the Palestinian people—men, women, and children who have been killed, starved, displaced, and subjected to unspeakable violence. He pointed out that over 20,000 children have died in Gaza alone, emphasizing that people are dying right now and will keep dying, and urged that this reality not be buried as he told his story.

Macklemore claimed that the previous Monday—while media scrutiny of Pink and his MetLife comments was at its peak—Sheeran told him Robert Kraft had called. The two were set to perform at Gillette Stadium later that month, a venue owned by the Kraft Group. According to Macklemore, Sheeran said Kraft would not allow him to perform in his stadium and had also convinced other stadium owners to issue a joint ultimatum: if Macklemore remained on the tour, Sheeran would be barred from their venues. Macklemore described Sheeran as trapped in a difficult spot, noting that his typically apolitical stance was being tested as never before. Sheeran reportedly said the phrase "Free Palestine" and the Palestinian flag image were hurtful to many people he had spoken with. Macklemore said he replied that if those words were more offensive than tens of thousands of Palestinian children being killed by Israel, then there was a profound disconnect between those people and himself. He added, however, that Sheeran could not move past his public-facing "I don't take sides" position.

Macklemore said he understands why people avoid taking sides—it can cost money, brand deals, sponsorships, festivals, private shows, relationships, and access. He said he has lost all of those things. Even so, he argued, there is no neutral ground between oppressor and oppressed. When one side has bombs and unlimited American financial and military support, refusing to choose a side does not put you in the middle, he wrote. His full statement is available on Instagram. Concert promoter Messina Touring Group had released a statement on Sept. 14 about dropping Macklemore from the tour, saying that venues on the upcoming U.S. dates notified them they would not allow a concert with Macklemore on the lineup, which would have forced the tour's cancellation and affected hundreds of thousands of fans. After talks with stakeholders, the promoter said, Macklemore would not perform on the remaining support dates. Messina Touring Group, founded by Louis Messina, is a major concert promotion company known for working with artists such as Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, and Kenny Chesney.

Macklemore had drawn headlines and debate during his Sept. 4 set at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium, where he delivered a speech that included a call to "Free Palestine" before performing his song "Hind's Hall," which voices support for pro-Palestinian protests. "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," he said during the speech. He described his message as one of peace and love for all human beings to be treated with dignity, respect, and equality. He then declared, "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 of this terrorist organization, ICE. None of us will be free until we are all free." The speech, which he posted on X, can be watched below. MetLife Stadium, located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, is one of the largest venues in the NFL and has hosted major events including the Super Bowl and international soccer matches.