Macklemore removed from Ed Sheeran tour after two shows
Macklemore is out as the opening act on Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour after two stadium shows in New Jersey.
The removal was confirmed on Sept. 14. Macklemore had been booked for 10 dates on the run and played only the two concerts at MetLife Stadium before he was pulled, according to Billboard.
He played two shows. Then he was gone. At MetLife, Macklemore performed 'Hind's Hall' and said 'Free Palestine' from the stage. The track was originally released in May 2024.
Accounts differ on how the decision was reached. Macklemore said Sheeran told him that Robert Kraft had called to say Macklemore would not be allowed to perform at Gillette Stadium, which is owned by the Kraft Group. Macklemore also said Kraft had rallied other stadium owners, who told Sheeran that venues would not be available if Macklemore remained on the bill, the opening slot that plays before the headliner.
Kraft gave a separate account. He said the Gillette Stadium concerts scheduled for Sept. 25 and 26 would cross a line because of Macklemore's recent actions and material shared from the stage in New Jersey.
Sheeran addressed the removal on Sept. 15. He said the decision to drop Macklemore was the promoter's decision, not his, and that Macklemore's contract was with the promoter rather than with him. Promoter Messina Touring said venues on upcoming US tour dates had notified it that they would not allow a concert with Macklemore on the line-up.
The support bill has shifted further. Openers Finneas, Lukas Graham and Aaron Rowe said they would no longer open dates on the tour, citing opposition to silencing artists and support for Palestine. Beoga, which plays as backing band for portions of Sheeran's performance, also pulled out of the run.
Sheeran said he spent the week trying to build bridges after the decision, according to Billboard. Other musicians responded publicly to the removal, including Garbage, Ms. Rachel and MUNA, according to Billboard.
What makes this stand out is the speed. A 10-date booking ended after two nights, and the dispute moved quickly from backstage calls to public statements from the artists, a stadium owner and the promoter. For ticket-holders, this means the rest of Sheeran's US stadium run will look different from the line-up first announced, with several support slots now empty.
