Ed Sheeran Breaks Silence on Macklemore Being Dropped From Loop Tour Over Palestine Comments

• Ed Sheeran released a detailed statement after promoters removed Macklemore from his US Loop Tour following the rapper's pro-Palestine speeches
• Sheeran insisted the decision to drop Macklemore was made by venues and the Messina Touring Group, not by him personally
• Macklemore had accused New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft of rallying stadium owners against him before Sheeran weighed in

Ed Sheeran has finally spoken out after rapper Macklemore was removed from his US Loop Tour, releasing a lengthy personal statement on Instagram on 15 September 2026, making it clear that the call was not his to make.

Macklemore delivered charged pro-Palestine speeches during his opening sets at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on 4 and 5 September, telling audiences he wanted people in Gaza and the occupied West Bank to know they had not been forgotten.

"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.'"

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He then performed his song Hind's Hall, about pro-Palestine demonstrators who occupied a Columbia University building, while footage from Gaza played on stadium screens.

The performances triggered a petition from the Israeli American Council demanding Macklemore be removed from the remaining dates. Shortly after, the Messina Touring Group, promoter of the US leg of the tour, confirmed on 14 September that Macklemore would not be performing at the remaining support dates, citing notifications from venues that they would not allow shows to proceed with him on the lineup. Macklemore was scheduled to appear at eight of Sheeran's 10 remaining stadium dates, including stops at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts, Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta and Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Ed Sheeran speaks out on the controversy

In his statement, the Thinking Out Loud singer described the situation as one he tried desperately to resolve.

"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."

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Sheeran was firm that he bears no personal responsibility for the outcome. "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," his statement reads.

Ed Sheeran defends his stance on politics

Rather than addressing the Israel-Palestine conflict directly, Sheeran explained why he keeps politics off his stage.

"There is a reason I do not use my professional platform for politics — my audience includes young people, often children, of all backgrounds," he wrote, adding that he does hold personal views on the conflict even if he chooses not to share them publicly.

He also expressed respect for Macklemore while defending a different approach: "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."

Prior to Sheeran's statement, Macklemore had accused Patriots owner, billionaire businessman Robert Kraft, of coordinating with other stadium owners to have him removed. The tour is set to resume on 19 September in Philadelphia.

Following the rapper's ejection from the bill, the remaining supporting acts on the tour also pulled out of the upcoming dates in solidarity, leaving the tour's opening lineup significantly reshuffled ahead of its next show.

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See Ed Sheeran's statement below.

Podcast and Chill under fire

In an earlier report, Briefly News shared online reactions to the latest episode of Podcast and Chill, during which the hosts MacG and Sol Phenduka spoke on the Kempton Park murders.

The podcasters were criticised for their insensitive jokes about Elizabeth "Tsontso" Moselakgomo, with some of the outrage directed at Sol as a father to two daughters.

Source: Briefly News