New York: Macklemore has been dropped from the remaining dates of Ed Sheeran’s US Loop Tour after venues objected to his continued participation following pro-Palestine remarks he made during a September 4 concert at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
During the performance, the Grammy-winning rapper declared “free Palestine” and delivered a political speech in which he told people in Gaza and the occupied West Bank that they had not been forgotten.
Messina Touring Group, which promotes the US leg of Sheeran’s tour, said venues hosting upcoming concerts had informed the company that they would not permit shows to proceed with Macklemore on the lineup.
“As the concert promoter for Ed Sheeran’s U.S. Loop Tour, we have 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,” the promoter said in a statement to Rolling Stone.
“After discussions with stakeholders, Macklemore will not be performing on the remaining support dates,” it added.
The decision removes Macklemore as a supporting act from the remainder of Sheeran’s US tour dates.