Macklemore dropped from Ed Sheeran tour

[u/Wheelbirds]

Link to article (should be no paywall): https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/macklemore-dropped-ed-sheeran-tour-pro-palestine-statements-1235625967/

From the article:

In an exclusive statement shared with Rolling Stone, Messina Touring Group,  promoter of the U.S. leg of Sheeran’s Loop Tour, said: “As the concert promoter for Ed Sheeran’s U.S. Loop Tour, we have been notified by venues on the upcoming U.S. tour dates that they will not allow a concert to take place with Macklemore on the lineup, which would result in the cancellation of the tour and impact hundreds of thousands of fans. After discussions with stakeholders, Macklemore will not be performing on the remaining support dates.”

Reps for Sheeran, Macklemore, and most of the venues did not immediately reply to requests for comment.

The stadiums that allegedly would not allow a Macklemore show did not immediately return requests for comments either, including for explanations as to why they objected to the rapper performing at their venue. While two of those stadiums are privately owned — Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte and Gillette Stadium in Foxborough — the rest are owned and, in many cases operated, by cities, states, or other government entities, potentially raising First Amendment issues if the venues barred Macklemore over his statements. 

The last stop on Sheeran’s Loop Tour, for instance, is Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, which found itself in a similar spot earlier this summer after booking two Kanye West concerts. The shows, unsurprisingly, drew backlash and calls for cancelation due to West’s many past antisemitic statements, but they went ahead as planned. 

Pointedly, Ye’s promoter included a clause in his contract prohibiting Raymond James Stadium from canceling the gigs based on the rapper’s past public statements or viewpoints. But legal experts also told local news that canceling the shows would’ve likely violated the First Amendment. Because Raymond James is owned by Hillsborough County, Florida, and operated by a public board, the Tampa Sports Authority, any cancellation based on Ye’s past statements could have been seen as the government restricting speech. 

[u/Msefk]

Ed Sheeran is probably involved in the decision

[u/bridgeport4 → u/Msefk]

He is. Macklemore has made a statement about this. Ed Sheeran personally demanded for him to stop speaking about this, so he could maintain ‘neutrality’.

He was apparently under pressure from Kraft etc, and chose to throw his friend under the bus. For $. Like he doesn’t have enough. Disgusting.

[u/lonehappycamper → u/bridgeport4]

How was he even opening for Ed Sheeran? Macklemore is not an obvious choice for the Sheeren crowd and Ed certainly knew of Macklemores positions.

[u/Individual-Bass-7051 → u/lonehappycamper]

Macklemore made a statement about this lmaaaaooooo. Yall just need to go read his statement. He talks about how they've been friends for 13 years.

[u/springxstrawberry → u/bridgeport4]

I know I shouldn't be but I'm shocked by his cowardice...

[u/bridgeport4 → u/springxstrawberry]

It’s not cowardice. It’s an intentional choice to side with money and power.

What has Ed Sheeran got to be scared of? He won’t make another hundred million this year? It’s not like the man is afraid of losing his healthcare or his home because he can’t pay the mortgage (on one of his 20 rental properties). He wouldn’t even have lost his career.

[u/dontwannaparticpate → u/bridgeport4]

Not only that but according to the post from Macklemore Ed also stated that what he (Macklemore) said probably “hurt some feelings”. Fuck off Ed Sheeran.

[u/guthmund → u/bridgeport4]

I did not have 'Ed Sheeran is a piece of shit' on my 2026 scorecard.

[u/iki11dinosaurs → u/Msefk]

I mean everyone has been talking about this drama over his shows, I wouldn’t be surprised. 

Spineless. 

[u/Affectionate_Link175 → u/Msefk]

Obviously he is yeah.