Ed Sheeran has spoken out after Macklemore was dropped from the U.S. leg of his Loop Tour following the rapper's remarks about the war in Gaza. Sheeran, who has faced backlash after Macklemore was kicked off the tour for his comments, said that it had been a promoter and not him who had made the decision. The 35-year-old singer said he was “appalled by the conflict between Israel and Palestine,” describing the suffering on both sides as “a human tragedy.” “There are too many wars across the world causing immeasurable pain, none of which should be tolerated,” Sheeran wrote in an Instagram post.
Macklemore, 43, had been scheduled to open ten shows on the American leg of Sheeran's tour. He performed at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on September 4 and September 5 before reports emerged that he would no longer perform at the remaining eight dates. https://www.instagram.com/p/DdT-6KGAtuI/?hl=en&img_index=1 Sheeran explained that Macklemore had asked to join the tour the previous year and that he agreed because he “respect[s] him as an artist.” The singer also said that his supporting acts are generally allowed to choose their own setlists. However, after Macklemore's performances in New Jersey, Sheeran said venues involved in his upcoming dates told him they would withdraw the shows if Macklemore remained on the bill.
According to Sheeran, he spent the week speaking with venues in an effort to find a solution that would allow the shows to go ahead. Sheeran said one of those involved in the conversations was New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft. Despite those efforts, Sheeran said the decision was ultimately out of his hands.
The singer also pushed back against any suggestion that his decision not to publicly comment on the conflict before now meant that he was indifferent to the situation. He added that his shows are intended to be spaces centered on “unity, joy, escapism, love” and inclusivity. Sheeran further insisted that he is not “complicit” in the conflict and said that he has his own views about the devastating situation in the region.
For Sheeran, however, the central point of his statement was that the decision to remove Macklemore was made by the tour's promoter after venues raised concerns — rather than being a decision made personally by the singer. The dispute comes as Sheeran continues the US leg of his Loop Tour, with the fallout from Macklemore's departure adding another layer of controversy to the ongoing debate over artists using their platforms to speak about the Israel-Gaza conflict.
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