Liberal lawmakers, activists rally behind Macklemore after Sheeran tour removal over 'Free Palestine' stance

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Liberal lawmakers, commentators and activists have spoken out against Macklemore's removal from Ed Sheeran's tour and expressed support for the rapper.

"It’s so incredibly disappointing that Macklemore, my constituent, was removed from Ed Sheeran’s tour because of his comments in support of the Palestinian people. We should all be outraged that powerful people are more upset about what an artist says than the displacement, starvation, and killing of innocent Palestinian children and families. Thank you, Macklemore, for speaking up. This is a moment for us to come together, find our moral conscience as a nation, and end this genocide," Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., wrote on X.

After Macklemore repeatedly called for a "Free Palestine" and performed his anti-Israel song "Hind’s Hall" while opening for Ed Sheeran, the rapper was dropped Monday from the remaining U.S. dates on which he was scheduled to perform on the "Shape of You" singer's "Loop Tour."

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"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," Messina Touring Group, the promoter of the U.S. leg of Sheeran’s Loop Tour, said in a statement to Rolling Stone. "After discussions with stakeholders, Macklemore will not be performing on the remaining support dates."

Kraft provided a statement to TMZ, confirming that he opposed Macklemore performing at Gillette Stadium: "Gillette Stadium has a longstanding commitment to providing a welcoming environment for all guests and ensuring that events held at our venue do not provide a platform for hate speech."

He added, "Based on Macklemore's recent actions, material shared from the stage during Ed Sheeran’s shows in New Jersey, and a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery that we believe has been deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community, we determined that his participation in the September 25th and 26th concerts at Gillette Stadium would cross that line." 

However, Kraft concluded, "This decision is not about diminishing the suffering of innocent Palestinians or denying anyone the right to advocate on their behalf."

Children's YouTuber Ms. Rachel criticized Sheeran specifically in her comments on Instagram.

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Macklemore's announcement about the removal said Ed Sheeran and his team "removed" him from the tour.

He said he was dropped after New England Patriots owner and Gillette Stadium operator Robert Kraft had told Sheeran that the rapper would not be allowed to perform at the stadium.

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"Ed told me that Kraft said I would not be allowed to perform in his stadium," Macklemore wrote. "Ed also told me that Kraft had rallied some of the other stadium owners and collectively they gave him an ultimatum: if Macklemore stays on the tour, you will not be allowed to play in our venues."

"Ed Sheeran had an opportunity [to] show that we won't be bullied into punishing people for supporting Palestine," her post read. "Instead he caved to people who refuse to accept what the world knows. A genocide is happening in Gaza. We all need to speak out against it."

Macklemore was slated to appear at eight of the 10 shows left on the U.S. leg of Sheeran’s tour.

Rosie O'Donnell, a former co-host of "The View" who moved to Ireland after President Donald Trump was elected in 2024, also posted in support of Macklemore on Instagram.

"Wow — sad — I stand with him in solidarity #GENOCIDE," O'Donnell wrote in an Instagram post about the news. The actress screenshotted her comment and posted it to her own profile as well.

O'Donnell also posted several Instagram stories in support of Macklemore, with some referencing a boycott.

Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., expressed support for Macklemore on X, writing, "Admire your courage, Macklemore!"

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MUNA, a pop band, posted to its Instagram story writing, "Everyone involved in the move to silence free speech about a genocide is utterly pathetic. Solidarity with @macklemore."

"Hollywood in Toto Podcast" host Christian Toto said the lawmakers supporting Macklemore were suspiciously silent during other recent celebrity controversies.

"These same lawmakers were silent when Gina Carano was cancelled and her career was destroyed by Disney for an innocuous post about tolerance," Toto told Fox News Digital in a statement. "They also said nothing when British singer M.I.A. got booted from Kid Cudi's tour earlier this year for sharing right-leaning views."

"Don't they care about strong, empowered women being silenced?" he continued. "Here, the free speech argument is trickier. An opening musical act shouldn't dramatically differ from the headliner. If Ed Sheeran's brand is family friendly and apolitical, having someone like Macklemore start his shows makes little sense. The situation could have been resolved by the musicians setting up boundaries for their opening act's political statements. Macklemore is an employee of the tour and represents Sheeran's brand, to a degree."

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Sheeran's team did not immediately return Fox News Digital's request for comment. Fox News Digital also reached out to a Kraft representative for comment. 

Hanna Panreck is an associate editor at Fox News.