The U.S. leg of Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour has run into controversy.
Reportedly, several U.S. venues said they would not host the concerts if rapper Macklemore remained in the lineup.
Venues objected to Macklemore appearing on upcoming dates of Ed Sheeran’s US tour
In an exclusive statement shared with Rolling Stone, Messina Touring Group, promoter of the U.S. leg of Sheeran’s Loop Tour, said: “As the concert promoter for Ed Sheeran’s U.S. Loop Tour, we have been notified by venues on the upcoming U.S. 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.”
Macklemore has been removed from the rest of Ed Sheeran’s stadium tour. He was expected to appear at eight of the 10 venues on the Loop Tour. Macklemore reportedly joined the tour earlier this month. He performed two shows at MetLife Stadium outside New York City on Sept. 4 and 5.
The rapper yelled “Free Palestine” onstage and expressed solidarity with people in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. He also showed images depicting conditions in Gaza. The Seattle rapper went on to perform his protest song “Hind’s Hall.” The song references pro-Palestinian protesters at Columbia University who occupied a building and renamed it in honor of Hind Rajab, a six-year-old Palestinian girl killed in Gaza.
Macklemore remains one of music’s most outspoken pro-Palestinian voices. The rapper has been vocal about his stance while repeatedly calling for a ceasefire. In September 2024, he performed at Seattle’s Palestine Will Live Forever Festival, a benefit concert that raised funds for Gaza aid organizations. His outspoken activism has drawn both praise from supporters and criticism from opponents.
