Macklemore removed from Ed Sheeran US tour after venues object

Macklemore has been removed from the remaining support dates on Ed Sheeran's US Loop Tour after venues said they would not stage concerts with him on the bill.

The cut affects eight of the 10 shows left on the US leg. That leg is due to resume on 19 September in Philadelphia, according to the tour promoter Rolling Stone.

Messina Touring Group, the promoter that organises Sheeran's US concerts, said venues on upcoming dates had notified it that they would not allow a concert to take place with Macklemore on the line-up. The company said losing those venues would force cancellation of the tour. It said cancellation would affect hundreds of thousands of fans.

The venues named as objecting were Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, AT&T Stadium in Arlington and Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. Support dates are the opening slots played before the headliner takes the stage.

Macklemore had joined the Loop Tour earlier in September. He played two nights at MetLife Stadium on 4 and 5 September.

At the 4 September show, he shouted "Free Palestine" on stage and expressed solidarity with people in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. He also displayed images of devastation in Gaza and performed his protest song "Hind's Hall".

The performance prompted calls for his removal. A petition demanding that he leave the tour was launched soon afterwards, with Variety reporting on the campaign on 6 September. The petition said he had "used the stage to deliver an extended political message, called for 'Free Palestine' and performed Hind's Hall."

The Israeli-American Council also started a petition urging Sheeran to drop Macklemore from the rest of the US run. Macklemore later addressed the criticism and defended his comments, saying his message was for peace.

Singer Pink then shared a post criticising Macklemore's remarks during the Sheeran tour. She later responded to backlash over sharing that post, in a statement reported on 11 September Rolling Stone.

For fans, this means the rest of the US leg will go ahead without Macklemore in the opening line-up. Sheeran's tour had been at risk of venue cancellations if he stayed.