Ed Sheeran had invited Macklemore to perform as his opening act, a gesture that, well, didn’t quite go as smoothly as one might expect.
Following his removal from Sheeran’s stadium tour due to his pro-Palestinian comments, Macklemore, whose actual name is Benjamin Haggerty, released a lengthy statement. This statement not only complimented Sheeran, a friend for over a decade, but it also revealed snippets of their private discussions, and implied that Sheeran’s long-held neutral stance regarding politics in his concerts was somehow a moral shortcoming.
In Macklemore’s words, “Ed was in a f**ked up position. He understood that.” He suggested that Sheeran’s usual apolitical approach was now under challenge, in a way that it previously hadn’t been.
While Macklemore expressed hope for their friendship to continue, he also seemed to think that Sheeran might benefit from some lessons.
Originally, Macklemore was set to open for Sheeran at eight out of the remaining ten U.S. shows on his Loop Tour.
During recent concerts at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, Macklemore took some time to convey political messages to the audience.
He shouted, “Free Palestine,” aiming to ensure that those in Gaza and the occupied West Bank felt remembered. But he didn’t stop there; he mentioned the need for freedom in Lebanon, Cuba, Congo, and Sudan, before turning to the situation in the United States.
“Free all people in America living in fear over this terrorist organization ICE,” he added.
Additionally, he applauded Columbia University students for their “bravery” in organizing pro-Palestinian protests.
Political Discourse on Stage
Macklemore has been vocal about political issues for years. Yet, in his response to being dropped from the tour, he recognized that these performances held a different significance; he was now speaking on a much larger platform.
“What I said at MetLife I have been saying on stages around the world for almost three years,” he pointed out. “So why is it an issue now?”
The answer, he felt, was mainly due to the visibility provided by sharing the stage with one of music’s largest acts.
Macklemore interpreted Sheeran’s continued support as an implicit endorsement of his messages. He considered that if he kept calling for Palestinian freedom from that stage, perhaps it might inspire other artists to speak out as well.
“The stage becomes resistance,” he wrote.
Controversial Backing
Macklemore indicated that things took a turn for the worse once Robert Kraft, the owner of the New England Patriots and head of Kraft Group, got involved. This group owns Gillette Stadium, where Sheeran was scheduled to perform shortly.
According to Macklemore, Sheeran relayed that Kraft communicated a clear ultimatum: drop Macklemore from the tour or lose the venue. This pressure, he claimed, resulted in multiple concert venues refusing to host the events if Macklemore was on the lineup.
The tour promoter, Messina Touring Group, acknowledged this situation, while Kraft admitted to blocking Macklemore’s performance at Gillette Stadium. However, Macklemore’s assertion that Kraft persuaded other owners remains solely his perspective.
Kraft has called Macklemore’s past performances offensive and detrimental to the Jewish community, asserting that his participation in the upcoming concerts crossed ethical lines.
At the same time, Kraft stated that his decision wasn’t meant to disregard the suffering of Palestinians and expressed a willingness to have a discussion with Macklemore.
Macklemore, however, rejected Kraft’s framing of his statements, arguing that accusations of anti-Semitism are often manipulated to silence critique of Israel.
This isn’t the first time Macklemore has faced such accusations. Back in 2014, he sparked a controversy for wearing an outfit that critics deemed reminiscent of an anti-Semitic caricature, an incident he contended was unintentional.
A Public Critique
Even after making it clear he wasn’t trying to damage Sheeran’s image, Macklemore publicly criticized his “brother” for avoiding political engagement.
He recounted a private discussion where Sheeran expressed concerns about how “Free Palestine” and the Palestinian flag might offend some of his contacts. Macklemore wasn’t convinced by this line of reasoning, suggesting that if “those words were more offensive than tens of thousands of Palestinian children being killed by Israel, then there was a fundamental disconnect.”
“But he couldn’t get past his public facing, ‘I don’t take sides,’” Macklemore quoted Sheeran as saying.
He continued by pointing out the risks involved in taking a stance, like losing financial backing or partnerships. He then summarized social justice for Sheeran:
“There is no neutral position between the oppressor and the oppressed.”
Celebrity Responsibility
Macklemore also addressed other artists in his critique. Particularly, he mentioned Pink, who had shared criticism of Macklemore’s statements. He used her as an example of an influential artist who should be speaking up.
“We have careers, money, opportunities, safety, and audiences around the world,” he stated. He contended that using platform advantages to promote Palestinian issues shouldn’t be viewed as a political intrusion but rather as part of an artist’s duty.
Macklemore reflected on his own ambitions during this tour: “I didn’t require ten shows from Ed. I needed just two—two chances to say the words that somehow became too dangerous to speak.”
Sheeran’s Stance
In response, Sheeran published a lengthy statement of his own, confirming that cancelation threats had arisen regarding venues if Macklemore remained. He noted that he had sought a compromise with all parties involved throughout the week.
However, he clarified that it wasn’t his decision to dismiss Macklemore from the tour. “That was the promoter’s decision, not mine,” he wrote.
Sheeran further pushed back against the idea that remaining neutral means complicity in a situation like this. “I am not complicit,” he asserted, emphasizing that while he has personal views about the Israel-Gaza conflict, he doesn’t believe it requires him to use his concerts as a political platform.
He reassured fans that they come to his shows for safety and music, not for a political debate. He stated, “there is room for multiple approaches” towards achieving peace.
Despite his attempts, Sheeran’s plan to keep the tour politically neutral hasn’t worked out as intended. All of his remaining opening acts, including Finneas and Lukas Graham, have stepped away from the tour, and his band Beoga has quit, too.
Looking Ahead
Even while sharing the details of their disagreement, Macklemore insisted he harbors no hard feelings towards Sheeran. He expressed hope that this wouldn’t mark the end of their bond, and he encouraged both to continue learning about the ongoing situation in Palestine and to reflect on the meaning of neutrality at such a complex time.
Macklemore has his stance quite set. He summed it up with a powerful phrase: “Free Palestine.” He concluded by stating that if standing by this belief cost him the stage, then this has been the most successful tour he’s ever had.
