Grammy Award-winning rapper Macklemore has been removed from the remaining U.S. dates of Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour after several venues reportedly objected to the rapper performing following his onstage statements supporting Palestine. The decision has also drawn Robert Kraft into the controversy after Macklemore alleged that the billionaire pressured Sheeran and other stadium owners to remove him from the tour.
The development follows Macklemore’s September 4 and 5 performances at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where he repeatedly called for a “Free Palestine,” spoke about Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, and performed his protest song “Hind’s Hall.” His comments prompted criticism from pro-Israel groups and a petition calling for his removal from the tour.
Messina Touring Group, the promoter of the U.S. leg of Sheeran’s tour, confirmed Monday that Macklemore would not perform on the remaining support dates. The company said venues had informed the tour that they would not allow concerts to take place with Macklemore on the lineup, potentially forcing the cancellation of shows that would affect hundreds of thousands of fans.
His MetLife Performances Spark Backlash
Macklemore has been dropped from Ed Sheeran’s tour after making headlines for saying “free Palestine” on stage:
• During his appearances on Sheeran’s tour earlier this month, Macklemore told the crowd: “A big part of the reason why I wanted to do this tour in the first place is… pic.twitter.com/lICuUCpsMx
— Variety (@Variety) September 14, 2026
Macklemore joined Sheeran’s Loop Tour earlier this month and was scheduled to perform at eight of the remaining 10 U.S. shows. His appearance at MetLife Stadium, however, quickly became a source of controversy after he used his set to address the Israel-Gaza war.
During his September 4 performance, Macklemore told the audience that one of the reasons he wanted to perform in stadiums was to publicly say “Free Palestine.” He said he wanted people in Gaza and the occupied West Bank to know they had not been forgotten.
The rapper also displayed images of destruction in Gaza while performing “Hind’s Hall,” which was inspired by pro-Palestinian student demonstrations at Columbia University. At his second MetLife performance on September 5, Macklemore again voiced support for Palestinians and addressed Jewish members of the audience.
“Criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide in no way is a criticism of you,” he said, describing his message as one centered on peace, dignity, respect, and equality.
The performances drew criticism from StopAntisemitism, which accused Macklemore of using the concert to promote what it called anti-Israel propaganda. Singer Pink amplified criticism of the rapper’s performance before later clarifying that she was not calling for him to be silenced or removed from the tour.
The Israeli American Council subsequently launched a petition demanding that Sheeran remove Macklemore from the remaining dates.
Ed Sheeran Tour Promoter Confirms Lineup Change
Messina Touring Group confirmed that Macklemore had been removed after venues objected to his participation.
“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,” the company said. It added that keeping him on the tour could result in cancellations affecting hundreds of thousands of fans.
The venues reportedly include Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, and Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.
Representatives for Sheeran and most of the venues did not immediately comment on the reports.
Robert Kraft Confirms Macklemore Is Barred From Gillette Stadium
Robert Kraft defends his decision to ban Macklemore from Gillette Stadium for speaking in support of Palestine, which resulted in him being kicked off Ed Sheeran’s tour:
“Gillette Stadium has a longstanding commitment to providing a welcoming environment for all guests and… pic.twitter.com/9kzJnvGqtT
— Pop Base (@PopBase) September 14, 2026
Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium, confirmed that Macklemore had been barred from performing at the Foxborough venue, where Sheeran is scheduled to perform September 25 and 26.
Kraft said the decision was based on Macklemore’s recent performances, material presented from the stage during the MetLife shows, and what he described as a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery that he believes has been offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community.
Kraft said the decision was not intended to diminish the suffering of Palestinians or deny anyone the right to advocate on their behalf. He also said such advocacy should not come at the expense of the Jewish community.
“I would welcome the opportunity to sit down with Macklemore and discuss the facts,” Kraft said, adding that his ultimate goal was peace, an end to suffering, and an end to hate.
Kraft did not directly address Macklemore’s allegation that he had contacted other stadium owners and urged them to pressure Sheeran to remove the rapper.
Macklemore Says Ed Sheeran Was Put Under Pressure
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In a lengthy Instagram statement, Macklemore said Ed Sheeran told him that Kraft had made clear he would not be allowed to perform at Gillette Stadium. He also alleged that Kraft had rallied other stadium owners to give Sheeran an ultimatum: keep Macklemore on the tour and lose access to their venues.
Macklemore’s account has not been independently verified, and Sheeran has not publicly confirmed the allegation.
The rapper described Sheeran as a close friend of 13 years and said the singer was placed in an extremely difficult position. Macklemore said Sheeran’s longstanding decision to avoid taking public political positions had been challenged by the controversy.
He also maintained that he did not regret speaking about Palestine from the stage.
Macklemore Stands By His “Free Palestine” Message
Macklemore said the controversy had returned attention to the situation in Palestine and argued that the professional consequences were not comparable to the suffering experienced by civilians in Gaza.
He also emphasized that neither he, Sheeran, nor Pink should be viewed as the victims of the dispute because they have careers, financial resources, and the ability to return home to their families.
The North American leg of Sheeran’s Loop Tour is scheduled to continue through November, with Lukas Graham and Aaron Rowe remaining among the support acts. Macklemore will no longer appear on the remaining U.S. dates.
The controversy surrounding Macklemore, Ed Sheeran, and Robert Kraft has now moved beyond a concert lineup dispute, raising broader questions about political expression, venue control, and how artists’ public statements can affect major commercial events.
Featured image: Jake Magraw for Macklemore
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