Singer Ed Sheeran has responded to the backlash over the removal of Macklemore from his North American Loop tour, following the rapper’s “Free Palestine” speech on stage at MetLife stadium in New Jersey.
In a two-minute speech on 4 September, the Grammy-winning artist told the audience he wanted the people of Gaza and “the occupied West Bank” to know “we have not forgotten about them”, prompting owners of subsequent stadium tour venues – including Robert Kraft, the billionaire owner of the New England Patriots and a prominent supporter of and donor to Israel – to object to Macklemore’s appearance on the tour.
Messina Touring Group, the promoter of the US leg of Sheeran’s tour, confirmed Macklemore’s removal from the eight planned subsequent dates on Monday; hours later, Macklemore posted a lengthy statement reiterating his support of Palestine and the people of Gaza and outlining conversations about political activism with Sheeran, prompting criticism of the English singer’s apolitical stance and, on Tuesday afternoon, the withdrawal of another opening act.
On Tuesday, Sheeran responded with a lengthy Instagram post captioned: “It’s important that I set out some facts.”
“I am appalled by the conflict between Israel and Palestine,” he wrote in the first of several bullet-point statements. “The suffering and pain caused on both sides is a human tragedy. There are too many wars across the world causing immeasurable pain, none of which should be tolerated.”
According to Sheeran, Macklemore “asked to join my tour last year and I agreed, because I respect him as an artist”. He went on to say that he allowed the Thrift Shop singer to perform a set list of his choosing, “as with all my support acts”.
The Seattle-bred rapper, long an outspoken supporter of the rights of Palestinians and people in Gaza, delivered the brief remarks between songs during his first appearance on tour.
“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,” he said. “I said: free Palestine! I want those words to be loud and clear, so that people all the way in Gaza to the occupied West Bank know that we have not forgotten about them.”
He also played his protest anthem Hind’s Hall, which celebrated protesters’ occupation of a building they named in honor of Hind Rajab, a six-year-old killed by the Israeli military in 2024, accompanied by images of the Israeli military’s destruction of Gaza, which has killed more than 75,000 people in 16 months, according to some estimates.
At the second of his appearances at MetLife on 5 September, Macklemore reiterated his support for Palestine and addressed Jewish members of the audience: “Criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide in no way is a criticism of you. My message is for peace, love; for all human beings to be treated with dignity, respect and equality.”
Following those comments, which prompted the Israeli American Council to launch a petition calling for Macklemore’s removal from the tour, US venues communicated to Sheeran that they would refuse to host the show if the rapper was still a supporting act.
“I was informed this stance was based on how Macklemore conveyed part of his message during his performance, rather than on everything that was said,” he wrote. Though Sheeran said that he attempted to broker conversations among the promoters, venue owners such as Kraft and activists “on both sides”, the “venue’s and the promoter’s decision was final”.
“Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter’s decision, it was not mine,” he said. “I would never let down the fans who had made plans, nor would I abandon the touring crew and the other support acts and musicians who rely on me for work and to make a living.”
Sheeran went on to outline his larger view on the use of his platform, which Macklemore had described the day prior as “his typical apolitical stance” that “was being challenged in a way it had never been before”.
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“I have always used my platform and music to bring people from all backgrounds and cultures together and this won’t ever change,” he wrote, later adding: “I choose to use my fame and platform to be a place of safety and sanctuary, to maintain diplomacy and keep the conversations open, not closed.”
“I am not complicit,” he added. “I have my personal views on this devastating conflict. Just because I choose not to speak publicly, it doesn’t mean I don’t have them, and it doesn’t mean that I don’t care. Nor does it mean that I don’t support causes in my own, personal way.”
“I have spent this week trying to build bridges, to find a solution and unfortunately, was unable to do so,” Sheeran concluded his post. “I know who I am, both as a person and as an artist, and those who know my heart know my values too.”
Hours after Sheeran issued his statement, Aaron Rowe, the Irish musician scheduled to open for Sheeran for his 10 remaining US shows, announced that he would be withdrawing from the tour. “I don’t take the decision lightly,” he wrote on Instagram. “Ed has been a friend to me and has changed my life, I could never thank him enough for this.
“But as Irish people we know all too well about genocide, forced famine and violent occupation. I cannot stand by and allow billionaires to use their position of power to silence the rightful voices of those who speak up against Israeli genocide and who highlight the savage murder of children. I would lose all respect for myself to carry on as normal.”
He concluded: “I need to be true to myself and my ancestors who resisted colonisation, and fought for a freedom that I enjoy today in Ireland. Free Palestine.”
As of now, the North American leg of Sheeran’s tour will conclude without Rowe in November at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, which earlier this year hosted two shows by Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, who has a history of antisemitic statements.
