After Macklemore’s Removal & Opener Exodus, What’s Next for Ed Sheeran’s Tour?
Categoria: Musica
Following the rapper's expulsion due to his comments in support of a “free Palestine,” Billboard explores what the future holds for the stadium run.
Por Billboard | 15/09/2026
On Monday (Sept. 14), Seattle rapper Macklemore was removed from his opening slot on Ed Sheeran ’s Loop Tour, just a week after performing two shows at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium during which he performed his protest anthem “Hind’s Hall” and said “Free Palestine” from the stage. The performances, which had sparked criticism on social media from the likes of P!nk and Boy George , came amid Macklemore’s criticism of the Israeli government’s war in Gaza; “Hind’s Hall” was originally released in May 2024. Macklemore had originally been slated to perform at 10 of Sheeran’s Loop Tour shows, but only made the two appearances at MetLife before he was pulled from the trek. Related Robert Kraft Calls Macklemore’s ‘Free Palestine’ Statements ‘Deeply Offensive’: ‘A Line Had Been Crossed’ Billboard to Add Smart Media Albums As Chart-Eligible Sales Formats Duane 'Keffe D' Davis Gives First Interview After Tupac Shakur Murder Conviction “Last Monday, in the middle of all the media attention surrounding Pink and what I said at MetLife, Ed told me that Robert Kraft called him,” Macklemore wrote on Instagram . “We were scheduled to play Gillette Stadium later this month, which is owned by the Kraft Group. Ed told me that Kraft said I would not be allowed to perform in his stadium. 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.” In his own statement , Kraft said, “Based on Macklemore’s recent actions, material shared from the stage during Ed Sheeran’s shows in New Jersey, and a broader history of antisemetic rhetoric and imagery that we believe has been deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community, we determined that his participation in the Sept. 25 and 26 concerts at Gillette Stadium would cross that line.” On Tuesday (Sept. 15), Sheeran spoke up , noting that “Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter’s decision, it was not mine. Macklemore’s contract for the tour was with the promoter, not me.” That promoter, Messina Touring, also released a statement, which was first shared with Rolling Stone , which said it had “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.” Now, in addition to Macklemore, openers Finneas , Lukas Graham and Aaron Rowe all announced they would no longer be opening for Sheeran’s tour, with all three saying that they did not support silencing artists and that they stood with Palestine. Beoga, which serves as the backing band for portions of Sheeran’s own performance, also pulled out of the run. Here, Billboard breaks down what logistics might have been required to pull an opening act from a larger tour, and what comes next. Messina Touring, Shee