Artists Back Macklemore After 2 Tour Sets Sparked Removal From Ed Sheeran's 90,000-Capacity Shows
Updated
Updated · Rolling Stone · Sep 16
Artists Back Macklemore After 2 Tour Sets Sparked Removal From Ed Sheeran's 90,000-Capacity Shows
3 articles · Updated · Rolling Stone · Sep 16
Summary
Finneas, Aaron Rowe, Lukas Graham and Sheeran’s backing band Beoga withdrew from remaining Loop tour dates after Macklemore was removed for pro-Palestinian remarks delivered during two opening sets.
Macklemore said those 2 appearances let him tell 90,000 people “Free Palestine,” while Sheeran said venue owners and promoters—including Robert Kraft—made the call and that he failed to reverse it.
Kehlani, Kneecap, Muna, Gigi Hadid, Greta Thunberg, Massive Attack, Mary Lambert and Roger Waters were among dozens of supporters who framed the removal as censorship of speech about Gaza.
Kraft defended barring Macklemore by citing his stage remarks in New Jersey and what he called a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric, while supporters argued criticism of Israel is being conflated with antisemitism.
The backlash widened a dispute over whether major tours and venues can stay apolitical as Gaza’s reported death toll has surpassed 73,000 and artists face growing pressure to take public positions.