Overview
- Macklemore was removed from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour after he used his opening sets to chant “Free Palestine,” display footage from Gaza and perform a protest song, and promoters and venue owners told Sheeran they would not host shows with him on the bill.
- In protest of Macklemore’s ouster, all scheduled opening acts and Sheeran’s backing band announced they were withdrawing from the remaining U.S. dates, leaving upcoming lineups in flux and raising questions about the tour’s short-term staffing.
- On Wednesday Macklemore said he will donate his entire $1 million in net earnings from the tour to six organizations that provide aid to Palestinians and publicly invited Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft to match the gift.
- Robert Kraft issued a public statement saying Ed Sheeran asked him to commit $2 million to aid the region and Gillette Stadium posted a message describing a $2 million matching pledge while defending the venue’s decision not to host Macklemore.
- The dispute underscores how layered contracts among artists, promoters and venue owners can shape who gets a platform at major stadium shows and shifts public discussion from onstage speech to concrete humanitarian donations and industry booking practices.