Macklemore / Ed Sheeran Tour Controversy Explained

Macklemore was removed from the remaining U.S. dates of Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour in September 2026 after using his opening performances at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium to express support for Palestinians, criticize Israel’s actions in Gaza and perform his protest song “Hind’s Hall.”

The performances triggered criticism from several Jewish and pro-Israel organizations, a petition demanding Macklemore’s removal and a separate controversy involving singer Pink. On September 14, tour promoter Messina Touring Group confirmed that Macklemore would no longer appear on the remaining support dates after venues told the promoter that concerts would not be allowed to proceed with him on the lineup.

Macklemore defended his advocacy and said losing the tour dates would not stop him from speaking about Palestinians. He also alleged that New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft helped pressure Sheeran and other stadium operators to remove him, although that specific claim comes from Macklemore and has not been independently established.

What Did Macklemore Say At Ed Sheeran’s MetLife Stadium Concert?

Macklemore used his September 4 opening set at MetLife Stadium to publicly call for a “Free Palestine.” He told the audience that a major reason he wanted to participate in Sheeran’s stadium tour was the opportunity to stand in venues of that size and express support for Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. [Los Angeles Times] [CBS New York]

Macklemore then performed “Hind’s Hall,” his protest song supporting Palestinian rights and pro-Palestinian student demonstrators. Video and imagery relating to Gaza and student protests appeared on the stadium screens during the performance. [Los Angeles Times]

He also criticized U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement during the speech. [The Guardian]

Macklemore repeated his pro-Palestinian message during his second MetLife appearance on September 5. [CBS New York]

Macklemore Said His Criticism Of Israel Was Not Directed At Jewish People

During his second MetLife performance, Macklemore explicitly distinguished his criticism of Israel from criticism of Jewish people. Addressing Jewish members of the audience, he said criticism of Israel, allegations of apartheid and opposition to what he described as genocide were not attacks on Jewish people. [Rolling Stone Australia]

He said his message concerned peace, dignity, respect and equality for all people. [Rolling Stone Australia]

After criticism spread online, Macklemore shared footage of the speech and wrote that wanting all human beings to be treated equally should not be controversial. [Forbes]

What Is “Hind’s Hall”?

“Hind’s Hall” is a 2024 Macklemore protest song inspired by the pro-Palestinian student demonstrations that spread across American college campuses. The title refers to Columbia University’s Hamilton Hall, which protesters occupying the building temporarily renamed “Hind’s Hall” for Hind Rajab, a six-year-old Palestinian girl killed in Gaza. [TIME]

The song criticizes U.S. support for Israel and calls for a cease-fire. Macklemore said proceeds from the song would benefit the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees. [TIME]

Israeli American Council Called For Macklemore To Be Removed

The Israeli American Council launched a petition calling on Sheeran and tour organizers to remove Macklemore from the remaining U.S. dates. The organization accused Macklemore of using the concert to advance what it characterized as a one-sided political agenda. [Jewish Telegraphic Agency]

The group objected to Macklemore’s accusations against Israel and to the imagery shown during “Hind’s Hall.” [Jewish Telegraphic Agency]

The Anti-Defamation League and StopAntisemitism also publicly criticized the performance. [Los Angeles Times]

Some Concertgoers Walked Out During Macklemore’s Set

CBS New York interviewed Jewish and Israeli-American concertgoers who said they left their seats during Macklemore’s performance and returned for Sheeran. One attendee said the opening set felt more like a one-sided political rally than the concert she expected to attend. [CBS New York]

Another attendee who identified herself as Israeli-American said she also left during Macklemore’s second MetLife performance and returned when Sheeran took the stage. [CBS New York]

CBS also reported that other concertgoers supported Macklemore’s decision to express his political views from the stage. [CBS New York]

How Did Pink Become Involved In The Macklemore Controversy?

Pink entered the controversy after sharing an Instagram post from StopAntisemitism criticizing Macklemore’s MetLife appearance. Her repost generated its own backlash, with some followers interpreting it as support for efforts to have Macklemore removed from the tour. [Entertainment Weekly]

Pink later said the repost did not fully represent her own words or views and acknowledged that she would not have chosen all of the language used in the original post. [Entertainment Weekly]

She stressed that she was speaking for herself rather than the Israeli government and said Palestinians deserve a future respecting their humanity and aspirations while also condemning Hamas and emphasizing the protection of innocent life. [Entertainment Weekly]

Pink Said She Did Not Want Macklemore Fired

Pink specifically rejected the idea that she was demanding Macklemore be silenced or removed from the tour. She wrote that she had never asked another artist to be silenced and was not doing so in this case. She said she did not need Macklemore fired and was not seeking a refund. [Rolling Stone Australia]

Pink said her concern was that, as a Jewish mother, the performance had frightened her and people she loved. [Rolling Stone Australia]

She also said her objection was not simply that Macklemore had used the words “Free Palestine.” [Rolling Stone Australia]

Pink Raised Macklemore’s 2014 Costume Controversy

Pink also referenced a 2014 incident in which Macklemore performed wearing a dark wig, fake beard and oversized prosthetic nose. Critics at the time said the disguise resembled an antisemitic caricature. [TIME]

Macklemore denied intending to portray a Jewish stereotype and initially described the costume as a random disguise. He subsequently apologized to anyone he had offended. [TIME]

Pink said that episode influenced the context in which she viewed his 2026 performance. [Rolling Stone Australia]

Macklemore Was Removed From The Remaining Ed Sheeran Tour Dates

Messina Touring Group announced on September 14 that Macklemore would no longer perform on the remaining U.S. Loop Tour dates. The promoter said venues scheduled to host upcoming concerts had informed it that they would not allow shows to take place with Macklemore on the lineup. [The Guardian] [Rolling Stone UK]

Messina said that leaving Macklemore on the bill could therefore result in cancellation of the tour and affect hundreds of thousands of fans. After discussions with stakeholders, the promoter removed him from the remaining support dates. [Stereogum]

Macklemore had been scheduled to perform at eight of the final 10 U.S. shows. [The Guardian]

Which Stadiums Were Reportedly Involved?

The upcoming dates from which Macklemore was removed included major NFL stadiums across the United States. Reporting identified Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, AT&T Stadium in Arlington and Raymond James Stadium in Tampa among the venues scheduled for shows Macklemore had been expected to support. [Rolling Stone UK]

Messina Touring Group did not publicly provide individual statements from each venue explaining its objection. [The Guardian]

What Did Macklemore Say After He Was Removed?

Macklemore defended his decision to speak about Palestine and said professional consequences would not change his position. In a lengthy statement after his removal, he said that he, Sheeran and Pink should not be viewed as victims because all three have careers, money, safety and opportunities that Palestinians living through the war do not have. [The Guardian]

He said the real victims were Palestinian civilians and reiterated his support for a free Palestine. [The Guardian]

Macklemore ended his statement by saying that if saying “Free Palestine” cost him the tour while redirecting public attention toward Palestinians, he considered the experience worthwhile. [The Guardian]

Macklemore Said He And Ed Sheeran Had Difficult Conversations

Macklemore described Sheeran as a longtime friend but said the two had a serious disagreement over the controversy. He said they had spoken multiple times by telephone during the week after the MetLife performances. [Pitchfork]

Macklemore described Sheeran as a friend of approximately 13 years and a “brother,” while saying that their friendship could not change his own responsibility to speak publicly about Palestine. [The Guardian]

According to Macklemore, Sheeran told him that people involved with upcoming venues objected specifically to his use of the phrase “Free Palestine.” [Pitchfork]

Sheeran had not publicly provided his own detailed account of those private conversations as of September 14.

Did Robert Kraft Get Macklemore Removed From The Tour?

Macklemore alleges that New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft played an important role in the pressure campaign, but that claim has not been independently established. Kraft owns the Patriots, whose Gillette Stadium was scheduled to host two Sheeran concerts. [The Hollywood Reporter]

Macklemore claimed Sheeran told him that Kraft objected to his participation at Gillette Stadium and helped rally other stadium owners against keeping him on the tour. [Pitchfork] [The Hollywood Reporter]

Messina Touring Group independently confirmed that multiple venues told the promoter they would not host concerts with Macklemore on the lineup. The promoter’s statement did not say that Kraft coordinated those objections. [Stereogum]

The allegation that Kraft personally organized the broader pressure campaign therefore remains Macklemore’s account.

Did Ed Sheeran Personally Fire Macklemore?

The public announcement came from Messina Touring Group rather than from Sheeran personally. The promoter said its decision followed warnings from venues that they would not permit concerts with Macklemore on the lineup. [The Guardian]

Macklemore has nevertheless described private conversations with Sheeran indicating that Sheeran was involved in discussions about the decision. [Pitchfork]

Sheeran had not released a detailed public statement giving his own version of events through September 14. [The Guardian]

Why Was Macklemore On Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour?

Macklemore and Sheeran have known each other for more than a decade and have previously collaborated musically. Macklemore described Sheeran as a close friend when responding to his removal from the tour. [Billboard]

Macklemore also openly said during his MetLife performance that access to large stadium audiences was part of his reason for accepting the opening slot because it provided a platform for his message about Palestine. [CBS New York]

That statement became part of the criticism from organizations arguing that Macklemore had deliberately used Sheeran’s concert audience to deliver political advocacy.

Had Macklemore Spoken About Palestine Before The Ed Sheeran Tour?

Yes. Macklemore’s support for Palestinians predates his appearances with Sheeran by several years. He released “Hind’s Hall” in 2024 and participated in pro-Palestinian demonstrations while calling for a cease-fire in Gaza. [TIME]

Later in 2024, he drew another controversy after saying “Fuck America” while performing at a pro-Palestinian benefit concert in Seattle. Macklemore later said those words had overshadowed the event and reaffirmed his support for a free Palestine. [Rolling Stone Australia]

His views were therefore not new when Sheeran’s tour booked him as a supporting act.

Was Macklemore Removed Simply For Saying “Free Palestine”?

His removal followed the MetLife controversy, but the promoter described the immediate reason as objections from upcoming venues. Macklemore performed on September 4 and 5, calls for his removal followed, and Messina Touring Group announced on September 14 that venues would not permit concerts to take place with him on the lineup. [The Guardian] [Stereogum]

The controversy involved more than two words. Macklemore also accused Israel of apartheid and genocide, displayed images from Gaza, performed “Hind’s Hall,” praised pro-Palestinian activism and criticized ICE. [Jewish Telegraphic Agency] [The Guardian]

Macklemore himself nevertheless says opposition to his use of “Free Palestine” became central to the discussions that resulted in his removal. [Pitchfork]

Why The Macklemore And Ed Sheeran Tour Controversy Became So Large

The dispute brought together several contentious issues: the Israel-Gaza war, Palestinian advocacy, antisemitism, celebrity political speech and the power venue operators have over major concert tours. Macklemore’s statements drew criticism from Jewish advocacy groups while also receiving support from people who viewed his performance as legitimate advocacy for Palestinian rights. [CBS New York] [Los Angeles Times]

Pink’s involvement further expanded the controversy, although she later made clear that she was not calling for Macklemore to be fired or silenced. [Entertainment Weekly]

The most consequential development came on September 14, when the controversy moved beyond online arguments and petitions: Messina Touring Group confirmed that Macklemore had been removed from the remaining support dates because venues said they would not host the concerts with him on the lineup. [The Guardian] [Rolling Stone UK]