Ed Sheeran Ends Collaboration with Macklemore Amid Controversy
Pop icon Ed Sheeran has opted to drop rapper Macklemore from his tour after the artist faced backlash for his ongoing criticism of Israel while performing, promoting pro-Palestine and pro-Hamas sentiments during Sheeran’s shows this year.
The tour promoter, Messina Touring Group, confirmed that Macklemore would no longer be part of the lineup, as reported by Rolling Stone. They indicated that several venues for the U.S. leg of Sheeran’s Loop Tour raised concerns regarding the rapper’s participation.
“As the concert promoter for Ed Sheeran’s U.S. Loop Tour, we were informed by the venues on the forthcoming tour dates that Macklemore would not be allowed to perform. This, they said, could lead to the cancellation of the concert and negatively affect hundreds of thousands of fans. After discussions with stakeholders, it was decided that Macklemore will not participate in the remaining dates,” the promoter stated.
In response, Macklemore issued a lengthy statement accusing various individuals, including New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, of pressuring Sheeran to remove him from the tour.
The rapper, whose real name is Benjamin Haggerty, was scheduled to perform at eight additional locations on the tour. Reports indicated that all of those venues had expressed concerns about his remarks. These include Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts, and Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, among others.
Macklemore faced criticism for his remarks supporting Palestine and for perceived hostility toward Jewish individuals. At one particular concert in New Jersey, audience members demanded refunds following what they viewed as an anti-American and pro-Hamas rant.
He was criticized for shouting slogans like “Free Palestine” and accusing Israel of “genocide” during his performance at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. “I wanted to stand up here on stages across America and say two words that are near and dear to my heart: Free Palestine,” he declared, donning a Palestinian keffiyeh as the Jumbotron displayed pro-Palestine imagery.
Pop star Pink also chimed in on the situation, adding to the backlash against Macklemore without initially providing context for her comments. Later, she clarified her position, stating, “I have never asked for another artist to be silenced and I’m not asking now. I don’t need anyone fired, and I don’t need a refund. What I need is to be able to say, as a Jewish mom, ‘that scared me, and it scared people I love,’ without being told our fear is just propaganda.”
Macklemore Removed from Ed Sheeran’s Tour Following Erratic Anti-Israel Comments
Ed Sheeran Ends Collaboration with Macklemore Amid Controversy
Pop icon Ed Sheeran has opted to drop rapper Macklemore from his tour after the artist faced backlash for his ongoing criticism of Israel while performing, promoting pro-Palestine and pro-Hamas sentiments during Sheeran’s shows this year.
The tour promoter, Messina Touring Group, confirmed that Macklemore would no longer be part of the lineup, as reported by Rolling Stone. They indicated that several venues for the U.S. leg of Sheeran’s Loop Tour raised concerns regarding the rapper’s participation.
“As the concert promoter for Ed Sheeran’s U.S. Loop Tour, we were informed by the venues on the forthcoming tour dates that Macklemore would not be allowed to perform. This, they said, could lead to the cancellation of the concert and negatively affect hundreds of thousands of fans. After discussions with stakeholders, it was decided that Macklemore will not participate in the remaining dates,” the promoter stated.
In response, Macklemore issued a lengthy statement accusing various individuals, including New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, of pressuring Sheeran to remove him from the tour.
The rapper, whose real name is Benjamin Haggerty, was scheduled to perform at eight additional locations on the tour. Reports indicated that all of those venues had expressed concerns about his remarks. These include Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts, and Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, among others.
Macklemore faced criticism for his remarks supporting Palestine and for perceived hostility toward Jewish individuals. At one particular concert in New Jersey, audience members demanded refunds following what they viewed as an anti-American and pro-Hamas rant.
He was criticized for shouting slogans like “Free Palestine” and accusing Israel of “genocide” during his performance at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. “I wanted to stand up here on stages across America and say two words that are near and dear to my heart: Free Palestine,” he declared, donning a Palestinian keffiyeh as the Jumbotron displayed pro-Palestine imagery.
Pop star Pink also chimed in on the situation, adding to the backlash against Macklemore without initially providing context for her comments. Later, she clarified her position, stating, “I have never asked for another artist to be silenced and I’m not asking now. I don’t need anyone fired, and I don’t need a refund. What I need is to be able to say, as a Jewish mom, ‘that scared me, and it scared people I love,’ without being told our fear is just propaganda.”
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