Key facts
- Macklemore announced a "Free Palestine" tour with proceeds benefiting organizations supporting Palestinians.
- Ed Sheeran's concerts at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts were canceled due to severe weather.
- Macklemore was removed from Sheeran's tour after calling for a "free Palestine" on stage.
- Robert Kraft, owner of Gillette Stadium, accused Macklemore of antisemitic rhetoric.
- Messina Touring Group stated it made the decision to cancel Sheeran's concerts and remove Macklemore.
Rapper Macklemore has announced a "Free Palestine" concert tour, with all proceeds benefiting organizations supporting Palestine and the Palestinian movement. The announcement comes days after his removal from Ed Sheeran's tour and the subsequent cancellation of Sheeran's scheduled concerts in Foxborough, Massachusetts, due to severe weather.
Macklemore's removal from Sheeran's tour followed his on-stage call for a "free Palestine" at MetLife Stadium. This statement drew criticism from pro-Israel organizations, which accused him of spreading "anti-Israel propaganda." Robert Kraft, owner of Gillette Stadium and a major donor to Israel, reportedly pressured Sheeran to remove Macklemore, accusing the rapper of antisemitic rhetoric.
Sheeran stated that the decision to remove Macklemore was made by the promoter, Messina Touring, not by him. He also expressed solidarity with the touring crew and other support acts who rely on him for work. In response to Macklemore's removal, several supporting acts, including Beoga, Aaron Rowe, Finneas, and Lukas Graham, withdrew from the tour in solidarity with Macklemore and to protest the "silencing" of artists.
Macklemore subsequently announced he would donate his $1 million salary from Sheeran's tour to Gaza relief efforts and invited Kraft to match his donation. Kraft responded by stating Sheeran had asked him to commit $2 million to aid in the region.