Macklemore has spoken out after being removed from the remaining U.S. dates of Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour, following controversy surrounding his public support for Palestine and condemnation Israel's military actions in Gaza.
In a lengthy statement shared on Instagram, the Seattle rapper confirmed that Sheeran and his team had decided to remove him from the tour.
“I’m going to speak from the heart and share the truth,” Macklemore wrote. “Ed Sheeran and his team have made the decision to remove me from The Loop tour.”
But before addressing the circumstances surrounding his removal, Macklemore stressed that neither he, Sheeran nor Pink — who had also publicly commented on his remarks — should be considered victims.
“I am not a victim. Ed Sheeran is not a victim. Pink is not a victim,” he wrote. “We have careers, money, opportunities, safety and audiences around the world. Whatever consequences any of us face for what we say, we get to go home to our families.”
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He continued by redirecting attention to Palestinians living through the ongoing violence in Gaza.
“The victims are the Palestinian people. The men, women and children who have been killed, starved, displaced and forced to live through unimaginable violence,” Macklemore said.
“People are being killed today, and people will be killed tomorrow. I want to make sure that as I tell this story, we don’t lose sight of that.”
Macklemore’s removal follows his 4 September performance at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium, where he delivered a speech in support of Palestine before performing 'Hind’s Hall', his song supporting pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
During the speech, Macklemore directly addressed Jewish listeners while drawing a distinction between Jewish people and his criticism of the Israeli government.
Wanting all humans to be treated equal should never be controversial. pic.twitter.com/BOJ9xMoIZn
— Macklemore (@macklemore) September 7, 2026
“To all of my Jewish brothers and sisters: criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide in no way is a criticism of you,” he said.
“My message is for peace; love for all human beings to be treated with dignity, respect and equality.”
He concluded that section of the speech with calls to “free Palestine”, Lebanon, Cuba, Congo and Sudan, adding: “None of us will be free until we are all free.”
Macklemore alleges pressure from stadium owners
In his Instagram statement, Macklemore alleged that New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft had played a role in blocking him from continuing on the tour.
According to Macklemore, Sheeran told him that Kraft had contacted the British singer ahead of a scheduled performance at Gillette Stadium, which is owned by the Kraft Group.
“Ed told me that Kraft said I would not be allowed to perform in his stadium,” Macklemore wrote.
He further alleged that Kraft had contacted other stadium owners and that the group subsequently presented Sheeran with an ultimatum.
“Ed also told me that Kraft had rallied some of the other stadium owners and collectively they gave him an ultimatum: if Macklemore stays on the tour, you will not be allowed to play in our venues.”
Macklemore acknowledged the pressure Sheeran was under, describing him as being placed in “a fucked up position”.
According to Macklemore, Sheeran told him that both the phrase “Free Palestine” and the sight of a Palestinian flag had been “hurtful to a lot of people” he had spoken with.
Macklemore said he pushed back against that argument.
“I told him that if those words were more offensive than tens of thousands of Palestinian children being killed by Israel, then there was a fundamental disconnect between where those people stood and where I stood,” he wrote.
He added that Sheeran maintained a public position of not taking sides.
“Taking a side can cost you”
Macklemore also used the statement to address the professional consequences artists can face for taking political positions.
“And I get why people don’t,” he wrote. “Taking a side can cost you. Money, brand deals, sponsorships, festivals, private shows, relationships and access. I’ve lost all of those things.”
For Macklemore, however, declining to take a position amid such an imbalance of power does not amount to neutrality.
“There is no neutral position between the oppressor and the oppressed,” he said.
“When one side has the bombs and bottomless financial and military support from America, refusing to take a side doesn’t leave you in the middle.”
The circumstances surrounding his removal were subsequently confirmed, in part, by concert promoter Messina Touring Group on 14 September.
“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,” the company said in a statement.
“After discussions with stakeholders, Macklemore will not be performing on the remaining support dates.”
Throughout his response, the rapper maintained that the focus should not ultimately be on the career consequences he faces, but on the people whose rights he says he is trying to defend.
His latest statement continues a period of increasingly vocal advocacy for Palestine, with Macklemore making clear that the potential loss of shows, sponsorships and industry relationships has not changed his position.
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