Ed Sheeran immediately loses 100k followers after dropping Macklemore from tour. He defends his stance on the Israel War: ‘Pain caused on both sides’
“It doesn’t mean I don’t care”
Ed Sheeran has spent years keeping politics away from his stage. That becomes much harder when a political fight reaches the stage anyway—and suddenly puts an entire tour in the middle of it.
The singer is now facing questions over Macklemore’s removal from the remaining U.S. dates of his LOOP Tour. The decision followed growing pressure over Macklemore’s pro-Palestine comments at two New Jersey shows, including an aggressive push urging Sheeran to cut ties with the rapper. But Sheeran insists there is an important difference between whose tour it is and who actually made the call.
According to the Daily Mail, Sheeran has now addressed the controversy in a lengthy statement, arguing that he tried to keep Macklemore on the tour but was unsuccessful. He also defended his decision not to publicly take a side on Israel and Palestine. Meanwhile, the backlash has spilled over to his social media, with the singer reportedly losing nearly 100,000 Instagram followers as the controversy unfolded.
“I am not complicit”
Macklemore opened for Sheeran at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on September 4 and 5. During his performances, he called for a “Free Palestine,” spoke about Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, and performed “Hind’s Hall,” his pro-Palestine protest song. Images from Gaza were also displayed on the stadium screens behind him.
The performances quickly drew criticism. Several upcoming venues later informed tour promoter Messina Touring Group that they would not host the concerts if Macklemore remained on the lineup. Macklemore had been scheduled to open eight of the remaining 10 U.S. shows.
Sheeran maintains that he did not make the decision to remove him. He explained that he spoke with venues throughout the week in an attempt to reach a solution, including having direct discussions with billionaire Robert Kraft, who owns Gillette Stadium. He also communicated with promoters and activists on both sides, but said the venues and promoter ultimately made the final decision.
“Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter’s decision, it was not mine,” Sheeran said, adding that Macklemore’s contract was with the promoter rather than him.
Kraft confirmed that he personally decided Macklemore would not perform at Gillette Stadium. “Based on Macklemore’s recent actions, material shared from the stage during Ed Sheeran’s shows in New Jersey, and a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery that we believe has been deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community, we determined that his participation in the September 25th and 26th concerts at Gillette Stadium would cross that line,” he said.
Macklemore previously claimed Sheeran told him that Kraft had “rallied some of the other stadium owners” and that they collectively gave him an ultimatum: “If Macklemore stays on the tour, you will not be allowed to play in our venues.” Still, Macklemore did not place the blame entirely on his longtime friend, saying Sheeran was in a “f***ed up position.”
Sheeran also addressed his own position on the war. “The suffering and pain caused on both sides is a human tragedy,” he said of the Israel-Palestine conflict. Still, he maintained that his concerts are not intended to become political forums. He noted that his audiences include children and people from different backgrounds and said he wants his shows to remain centered on unity, joy, and escapism.
“I have my personal views on this devastating conflict,” Sheeran said. “I am not complicit. Just because I choose not to speak publicly, it doesn’t mean I don’t have them, and it doesn’t mean I don’t care.”
Sheeran also said he respects Macklemore’s willingness to publicly stand behind what he believes. But the two artists have chosen very different approaches to using their platforms, and the controversy has now made that difference impossible to keep offstage.
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