Macklemore has been removed from the remaining U.S. dates of Ed Sheeran’s LOOP Tour after the rapper used his opening performances at MetLife Stadium to speak publicly about Palestine, Gaza and other political issues.
The decision has quickly become one of the biggest music-industry controversies of September 2026, involving Macklemore, Ed Sheeran, Robert Kraft, Gillette Stadium, the Israeli-American Council and singer P!nk.
The situation moved from a concert controversy to a much larger dispute over politics, free expression, concert venues and the power that promoters and stadium owners have over artists.
The most important development came on September 14: tour promoter Messina Touring Group confirmed that Macklemore would no longer perform on the remaining U.S. support dates because venues had informed the promoter they would not allow concerts to proceed with him on the lineup.
But there is another part of the story attracting major attention.
Macklemore says that Robert Kraft, owner of the Kraft Group and the figure associated with Gillette Stadium, personally contacted Ed Sheeran and helped rally other stadium owners against keeping Macklemore on the tour.
That specific allegation has not been independently established in full. What is confirmed is that venues objected to Macklemore remaining on the bill and that the promoter ultimately removed him.
So what actually happened?
What Happened to Macklemore and Ed Sheeran?
Macklemore was scheduled as one of the special guests on Ed Sheeran's 2026 LOOP Tour.
The relationship between the two artists is not new. Macklemore and Ed Sheeran previously collaborated on "Growing Up," released in 2016 as part of Macklemore's This Unruly Mess I've Made. Sheeran provided vocals on the track.
For the 2026 tour, Macklemore was booked as an opening act alongside other artists including Lukas Graham and Aaron Rowe.
The controversy began during Sheeran's September 4 and September 5 shows at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
During his set, Macklemore delivered a political speech supporting Palestinians and called for a free Palestine. He also performed his protest song "Hind's Hall", while footage connected to Gaza and pro-Palestinian demonstrations appeared on stadium screens.
The comments immediately divided audiences.
Some concertgoers applauded Macklemore for using his platform to discuss the war in Gaza and Palestinian rights. Others objected to the political message, arguing that they had purchased tickets for an Ed Sheeran concert rather than a political event.
Within days, calls began growing for Macklemore to be removed from the tour.
That eventually happened.
Why Was Macklemore Removed From Ed Sheeran's Tour?
The immediate reason given by the tour promoter was venue pressure.
Messina Touring Group, which is promoting the U.S. leg of Sheeran's LOOP Tour, said venues scheduled to host upcoming shows had informed the promoter that they would not allow a concert to take place with Macklemore on the lineup.
According to the promoter, that created a much larger problem: if the venues refused to host the shows, the entire tour could potentially be affected, impacting hundreds of thousands of fans.
The promoter therefore decided to remove Macklemore from the remaining support dates.
This distinction matters.
The official explanation is not simply that Ed Sheeran personally decided he no longer wanted Macklemore on the tour.
Instead, the public explanation is that venue stakeholders created a situation in which keeping Macklemore on the lineup could jeopardize upcoming concerts.
That makes the controversy considerably more complicated.
What Did Macklemore Say at the Ed Sheeran Concert?
Macklemore used his opening set to make a direct political statement.
He told the audience that he wanted people in Gaza and the occupied West Bank to know they had not been forgotten.
He also argued that every human being deserves freedom, safety and dignity.
At the second MetLife performance, Macklemore addressed criticism surrounding his remarks and specifically rejected the idea that criticism of Israel should automatically be interpreted as criticism of Jewish people.
He said his message was about peace, equality and dignity for all people.
He also expanded his comments beyond Palestine, mentioning Lebanon, Cuba, Congo, Sudan and people in the United States who he said were living in fear because of ICE.
The performance then moved into "Hind's Hall."
That song has become an important part of Macklemore's political activism.
What Is Macklemore's "Hind's Hall"?
"Hind's Hall" was released by Macklemore in 2024 during a period of major pro-Palestinian demonstrations at universities across the United States.
The song takes its name from Hamilton Hall at Columbia University, which protesters occupied and renamed in honor of Hind Rajab, a Palestinian child killed during the Gaza war.
Macklemore used the song to criticize Israel's conduct in Gaza and express support for student protesters.
Proceeds from the song were directed toward humanitarian efforts involving the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, or UNRWA.
He later released "Hind's Hall 2", featuring artists including Anees, Amer Zahr, MC Abdul and the Los Angeles Palestinian Kids Choir.
That history is important because Macklemore's comments at the Ed Sheeran concerts were not an isolated political statement.
He has been publicly outspoken on the issue for years.
What Is Robert Kraft's Connection to the Macklemore Controversy?
This is one of the most searched parts of the story.
Robert Kraft is closely associated with Gillette Stadium, where Ed Sheeran was scheduled to perform on September 25 and 26.
Before Macklemore was removed, the official Gillette Stadium listing described Sheeran's shows as featuring Macklemore, Lukas Graham and Aaron Rowe.
After the controversy erupted, Macklemore claimed that Robert Kraft became involved.
According to Macklemore's account, Ed Sheeran told him that Kraft had called him after the MetLife performances.
Macklemore said Kraft told Sheeran that Macklemore would not be permitted to perform at Gillette Stadium.
More significantly, Macklemore alleged that Kraft had contacted other stadium owners and that they collectively put pressure on Sheeran: if Macklemore remained on the tour, Sheeran would not be allowed to perform at their venues.
That is a serious allegation.
However, readers should distinguish between what has been independently confirmed and what Macklemore alleges.
The tour promoter has confirmed that multiple venues objected to Macklemore's presence and that those objections threatened the continuation of the tour.
But the broader claim that Robert Kraft personally organized the venue pressure has not been independently confirmed in full.
Reports on September 14 said a representative for Kraft did not immediately provide a response to requests for comment.
Therefore, it would be inaccurate to state as an established fact that Robert Kraft single-handedly removed Macklemore from the tour.
The more accurate description is:
Macklemore alleges that Robert Kraft played a central role in pressuring Ed Sheeran and other stadium owners, while the promoter independently confirmed that venues objected to Macklemore's inclusion.
That distinction is important for anyone reporting on the controversy.
Why Does Gillette Stadium Matter?
Gillette Stadium is not just another concert venue in this story.
It is operated by the Kraft Group and is the home of the New England Patriots.
Ed Sheeran has a significant history with the stadium. The venue describes the upcoming September shows as his eighth and ninth performances there, and says his 2023 performance established the venue's single-show attendance record.
That makes the September 25 and 26 shows commercially important.
If the allegations made by Macklemore are accurate, the controversy was therefore not simply about one opening act.
It potentially became a dispute involving:
- The headlining artist
- The opening artist
- Stadium operators
- Concert promoters
- Other venue owners
- Political advocacy organizations
- Fans
- And the commercial risk of canceling major stadium concerts
That helps explain why the situation escalated so quickly.
What Did Ed Sheeran Say About Macklemore?
As of September 14, Ed Sheeran has not publicly issued a detailed statement explaining the removal.
That silence has become part of the controversy.
Macklemore has described Sheeran as a longtime friend and has suggested that Sheeran was placed under significant pressure by venues.
At the same time, the promoter's statement places the emphasis on venue decisions and the potential consequences for the wider tour.
This leaves an important unanswered question:
Was removing Macklemore primarily Ed Sheeran's decision, or was it effectively forced by the venues hosting the tour?
The public evidence currently points toward substantial venue pressure, but the exact private discussions between Sheeran, his team, venue operators and Kraft have not been fully disclosed.
What Did P!nk Say About Macklemore?
Singer P!nk also became involved in the controversy.
After Macklemore's MetLife performances, P!nk reshared a post criticizing his political statements and calling for consequences.
Her involvement generated its own backlash.
On September 12, P!nk published a lengthy explanation addressing the controversy and explaining why Macklemore's performance had alarmed her.
She said that her initial repost had used language she had not personally written and later explained her own position in greater detail.
The dispute therefore expanded beyond Macklemore and Sheeran.
It became a broader argument among musicians and audiences about political speech, Israel and Palestine, antisemitism, criticism of governments, and whether concert stages should be used for political advocacy.
Was Macklemore Accused of Antisemitism?
Yes.
Some organizations and critics accused Macklemore's performance of crossing into antisemitic territory.
The Israeli-American Council launched a petition demanding that he be removed from the remaining Ed Sheeran tour dates.
The organization argued that an Ed Sheeran concert should not become a political rally and objected to what it described as one-sided political messaging.
Macklemore rejected the characterization.
During his second MetLife performance, he specifically addressed Jewish audience members and said that criticism of Israel and opposition to what he described as apartheid and genocide were not intended as criticism of Jewish people. He framed his message as one of peace and equality.
The distinction between criticism of the Israeli government or state policies and hostility toward Jewish people has become one of the central arguments surrounding the controversy.
It is also one of the reasons this story has become significantly larger than an ordinary concert dispute.
Did Macklemore Know This Could Happen?
Possibly.
Macklemore has been outspoken about Palestine for several years, and "Hind's Hall" established his willingness to use his music career as a platform for political activism.
That makes the MetLife performance look less like an accidental deviation from the concert program and more like a deliberate decision.
At the same time, there is a difference between expecting criticism and expecting to lose a major touring opportunity.
Macklemore has effectively chosen to accept professional consequences for maintaining his position.
In his response following his removal from the tour, he argued that the artists involved are not the victims of the situation because they have careers, money, safety and the ability to return home to their families.
He instead focused attention on Palestinian civilians affected by the conflict.
What Happens to the Remaining Ed Sheeran Tour Dates?
Macklemore is out of the remaining U.S. support dates.
The promoter has said the tour itself will continue.
Other supporting performers, including Lukas Graham and Aaron Rowe, remain part of the tour lineup.
The situation is particularly notable because the official Ed Sheeran website and some ticketing listings were still showing Macklemore on certain upcoming dates around the time the removal was announced.
For example, official venue and ticketing pages had previously listed Macklemore for the September 25 and 26 Gillette Stadium shows.
Those listings may take time to update following the promoter's announcement.
The important point is that Macklemore is no longer scheduled to perform on the remaining U.S. support dates according to the promoter's September 14 announcement.
Macklemore and Ed Sheeran Have a Longstanding Musical Connection
The current controversy is particularly striking because Macklemore and Ed Sheeran have worked together before.
Their collaboration "Growing Up (Sloane's Song)" appeared on Macklemore's 2016 album This Unruly Mess I've Made.
Sheeran provided vocals and songwriting contributions to the track.
Their professional relationship therefore predates the 2026 tour by roughly a decade.
That context makes the current situation more complicated than a disagreement between two unrelated artists.
Macklemore has repeatedly referred to Sheeran as a friend, while Sheeran has so far avoided publicly taking a detailed position on the controversy.
Why This Story Matters Beyond Macklemore
The biggest issue here is not simply whether Macklemore should have spoken about Palestine at a concert.
The bigger question is who controls the boundaries of political expression in commercial entertainment.
An artist has a platform.
A promoter has contractual obligations.
A stadium has its own policies and commercial interests.
Fans have expectations about what they paid to see.
Venue owners have the ability to determine whether an event can happen on their property.
Those interests can collide very quickly.
Macklemore's case demonstrates exactly how powerful that conflict can become.
An artist can have the freedom to speak onstage and still face significant professional consequences afterward.
Likewise, venues can argue that they are not censoring an artist's political beliefs but are making commercial decisions about the events they host.
Both sides can therefore frame the same incident very differently.
What We Know vs. What We Don't Know
With so much commentary spreading online, it is worth separating confirmed information from allegations.
What is confirmed
- Macklemore performed as an opening act for Ed Sheeran at MetLife Stadium on September 4 and 5.
- He publicly supported Palestine during his performances.
- He performed "Hind's Hall."
- His comments generated significant backlash.
- The Israeli-American Council called for his removal from the tour.
- P!nk publicly addressed the controversy.
- Several venues objected to Macklemore remaining on the upcoming tour dates.
- Messina Touring Group confirmed on September 14 that Macklemore would not perform on the remaining U.S. support dates.
What remains an allegation
Macklemore says Robert Kraft personally contacted Ed Sheeran and helped rally other stadium owners to pressure Sheeran into removing him.
That claim is significant, but it should currently be attributed to Macklemore rather than presented as independently proven fact.
A fuller picture may emerge if Kraft, Sheeran, the Kraft Group or other venue operators publicly respond.
The Bigger Question: Can Artists Mix Politics and Concerts?
There is no universal answer.
Artists have historically used music to address civil rights, war, racism, inequality, immigration, LGBTQ+ rights and other political issues.
Macklemore himself has done this before.
But a stadium concert is also a commercial event attended by people with many different political beliefs.
Some fans see an artist's political speech as an important part of artistic freedom.
Others see it as an unexpected political intervention in an event they paid to attend.
That tension is unlikely to disappear.
In fact, the Macklemore controversy may become another major example of how difficult it has become for large entertainment events to separate music from politics.
Final Takeaway
The Macklemore and Ed Sheeran controversy is no longer simply about a rapper saying "Free Palestine" during an opening set.
It has developed into a dispute involving artistic expression, venue power, commercial pressure, political activism and the responsibilities of major concert promoters.
Macklemore was removed from the remaining U.S. dates of Ed Sheeran's LOOP Tour after venues reportedly indicated they would not permit the concerts to proceed with him on the lineup. The promoter confirmed the removal on September 14.
Macklemore, meanwhile, maintains his position and says the professional consequences do not outweigh his decision to speak publicly about Palestine.
The Robert Kraft portion of the story is perhaps the most explosive development, but it should be treated carefully. Macklemore alleges that Kraft played a major role in rallying venue owners against him; the independently confirmed part is that multiple venues objected to Macklemore remaining on the tour.
Ed Sheeran has yet to publicly provide a detailed explanation of the situation.
For now, the result is clear:
Macklemore is no longer part of the remaining U.S. dates of Ed Sheeran's LOOP Tour.
And the debate over whether his removal represents legitimate venue and business decisions or an unacceptable consequence for political expression is likely to continue long after the tour ends.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Macklemore dropped from Ed Sheeran's tour?
Macklemore was removed from the remaining U.S. support dates after several venues reportedly told the tour promoter they would not allow concerts to proceed with him on the lineup. The dispute followed his pro-Palestinian comments and performance of "Hind's Hall" at MetLife Stadium.
Did Robert Kraft remove Macklemore from Ed Sheeran's tour?
Macklemore alleges that Robert Kraft, who is associated with Gillette Stadium, contacted Ed Sheeran and helped rally other stadium owners to pressure the tour to remove him. That specific claim has not been independently confirmed in full. The promoter has independently confirmed that venues objected to Macklemore's participation.
Is Macklemore still on Ed Sheeran's 2026 tour?
No. As of September 14, 2026, the tour promoter has confirmed that Macklemore will not perform on the remaining U.S. support dates.
What did Macklemore say at Ed Sheeran's concert?
Macklemore spoke in support of Palestinians, called for a free Palestine and performed "Hind's Hall." He also spoke about other international conflicts and criticized ICE.
What is "Hind's Hall"?
"Hind's Hall" is Macklemore's 2024 protest song connected to pro-Palestinian student demonstrations at Columbia University. The song became one of his most prominent pieces of political activism.
Has Ed Sheeran responded to the Macklemore controversy?
As of September 14, 2026, Ed Sheeran has not publicly issued a detailed statement explaining the controversy or Macklemore's removal.
Are Macklemore and Ed Sheeran friends?
The two artists have a longstanding professional relationship and previously collaborated on "Growing Up" in 2016. Macklemore has also described Sheeran as a friend.
What happens to Ed Sheeran's remaining U.S. concerts?
The LOOP Tour is expected to continue with other supporting performers. Macklemore will no longer appear on the remaining U.S. support dates.
Sources and Reporting Notes
This article was researched using current reporting available on September 14, 2026, including reporting from Rolling Stone, The Guardian, Variety, Los Angeles Times, CBS News, NME and official Ed Sheeran and Gillette Stadium listings. The article distinguishes confirmed statements from allegations, particularly regarding Robert Kraft's reported involvement.