Macklemore Calls Out ‘Apolitical’ Ed Sheeran After Getting Dropped From 2026 Loop Tour

Macklemore has hit back at Ed Sheeran after he was dropped from the Photograph singer’s remaining U.S. tour over comments made onstage about Palestine. The rapper wrote in a lengthy post on Instagram that Sheeran’s “typical apolitical stance was being challenged in a way it never had been before.” He mentioned that the singer had told him that he doesn’t “take sides.” In his post, Macklemore wrote,

Ed was in a f-cked up position. He knew it. His typical apolitical stance was being challenged in a way it never had been before. He told me that the words ‘Free Palestine’ and the image of the Palestinian flag were hurtful to a lot of people he spoke with. 

Macklemore Dropped from Ed Sheeran’s U.S. Loop Tour Over Palestine Comments

Macklemore at MetLife Stadium | Credit: macklemore/Instagram

In his Instagram post, Macklemore explained that last Sunday, amid the controversy over his remarks, Sheeran told him that he would not be allowed to perform at Gillette Stadium. The decision allegedly came from Robert Kraft, the chairman of the Kraft Group, which owns the stadium. The rapper added that he was also informed that other stadium owners joined Kraft’s decision and gave Sheeran an ultimatum,

If Macklemore stays on the tour, you will not be allowed to play in our venues.

In his post, Macklemore once again solidified his stance in the matter. He wrote, “Taking a side can cost you. Money, brand deals, sponsorships, festivals, private shows, relationships and access. I’ve lost all of those things. But there is no neutral position between the oppressor and the oppressed.”

On September 14, concert promoter Messina Touring Group issued an official statement (via RollingStone) announcing the decision to drop Macklemore from the tour. The statement explained that the four-time Grammy winner was dropped, as continuing to have him on the lineup would “result in the cancellation of the tour and impact hundreds of thousands of fans.”

Why Was Macklemore Dropped from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour

Ed Sheeran | Credit: Eva Rinaldi, CC BY-SA 2.0 Via Wikimedia Commons

The decision came amid the controversy over the remarks her made at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium. His September 14 speech raised the “Free Palestine” slogan, and then he performed his song Hind’s Hall, which contains pro-Palestine lyrics.

He shared a clip of his speech on his X. As seen in the video, he said on stage, “My message is for peace; love for all human beings to be treated with dignity, respect and equality. So I say free Palestine, I say free Lebanon, I say free Cuba, I say free Congo, free Sudan, free all people in America living in fear of this terrorist organization, ICE. None of us will be free until we are all free.”

His comments were praised by some, while criticized by others. The Anti-Defamation League called his comments (via CBS News) “completely unacceptable.”

Robert Kraft has since issued a statement defending his position. The New England Patriots owner has said (via Variety), “Gillette Stadium has a longstanding commitment to providing a welcoming environment for all guests and ensuring that events held at our venue do not provide a platform for hate speech. Based on Macklemore’s recent actions, material shared from the stage during Ed Sheeran’s shows in New Jersey, and a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery that we believe has been deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community, we determined that his participation in the September 25th and 26th concerts at Gillette Stadium would cross that line.”

His office reportedly told the outlet that he would “welcome the opportunity to sit down with Macklemore and discuss the facts.”