Ed Sheeran breaks silence as tour falls apart
After a week of silence, Ed Sheeran says dropping Macklemore was the promoter's call, not his. The fallout since has cost him his band and three support acts.
Ed Sheeran has finally spoken out about the removal of rapper Macklemore from his US Loop Tour, insisting the decision was not his to make, even as the fallout continues across the music industry.
In a lengthy Instagram statement posted on September 15, the British pop star placed responsibility squarely with promoters and venue owners.
“Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter’s decision, it was not mine,” Sheeran wrote. “Macklemore’s contract for the tour was with the promoter, not me.”
The drama began when Macklemore used his opening slot at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on September 4 and 5 to deliver a charged political message to an 80,000-strong crowd. Wearing a keffiyeh, the rapper shouted “Free Palestine” from the stage, then performed his 2024 protest song Hind’s Hall as images from the Gaza conflict were projected across the stadium screens.
The performance prompted swift backlash. Pop star Pink reshared a post from antisemitism watchdog group StopAntisemitism that accused the rapper of ambushing Jewish fans with political messaging at what was meant to be a pop concert. Pink later issued her own statement explaining the repost.
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