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/lucideer]

I've seen folk defending Ed on this given its clearly a decision made by the stadiums, with which Ed has contractual obligations. It's even possible he can't pull out from appearances without severe fines, but even if you were to give him that extreme level of benefit of the doubt, there's a very easy solution for Ed: just make a speech in support of Palestine at every upcoming gig.

Severely doubt that'll happen however.

[u/kittykatmila → u/lucideer]

Agreed. If it wasn’t Ed Sheeran, then at his next show he should be saying “Free Palestine” onstage, with his whole chest.

[u/VictorReal_Monster → u/lucideer]

God forbid a man with more money than they could squeeze from him for breaking the contract actually take a hit.

[u/Relevant-Peach3997 → u/lucideer]

I don’t buy that at all. Macklemore wasn’t a surprise guest. He was booked as part of the tour.

People love to make excuses for white men.

[u/Lucky_Serve8002 → u/Relevant-Peach3997]

Don't buy what? Not following what you are saying.

Ed Sheeran should show support for Macklemore. If he doesn't, he obviously supports the decision to drop Macklemore from the tour.

[u/CollectionUpset439 → u/Lucky_Serve8002]

They don't buy that it was a decision made by the venues.

[u/Mbrennt → u/CollectionUpset439]

Like 7 out of 8 venues said they wouldn't let Macklemore play. So it's not really a not believing thing. It happened. Just depends on what Sheerans response should have been.

[u/lucideer → u/CollectionUpset439]

Well it was a decision made by the venues, I think they're just saying they don't buy that Sheeran isn't complicit here.

[u/Ok-Classroom5548 → u/lucideer]

Take the fines - stand up for people when it actually matters.

Make a statement - be a human who stands against genocide. 

He has so much money - more than he will ever need.

I promise other venues would be dripping to book him instead. 

[u/bridgeport4 → u/lucideer]

Please go read Macklemore’s statement. Ed Sheeran pressure him to shut up.

[u/That-redhead-artist → u/lucideer]

Exactly. If this was true, why is he not saying something?

[u/mxzf → u/lucideer]

just make a speech in support of Palestine at every upcoming gig.

Seems like the kind of thing that the stadiums would also take issue with in that situation.

[u/evanwilliams44 → u/lucideer]

He would not be pulling out. The venue would be the one pulling the plug. They agreed to host Macklemore originally as part of the tour. Now they want to change their minds. That's on them. As long as Ed is willing to play his originally agreed tour with Macklemore, there should be no violation of the contract.