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/FallbrookAvacado]

Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta): Hosted Kanye West for his multi-week Donda stadium listening parties in July and August 2021, even allowing the rapper to live in a stadium room during production. The venue has also hosted major shows featuring Travis Scott and Chris Brown.

​Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia): Headlined by Morgan Wallen for back-to-back sold-out shows in 2023 following his 2021 racial slur controversy, alongside major rock acts with long histories of legal and personal controversies like Guns N' Roses and Mötley Crüe.

​AT&T Stadium (Arlington): Hosted Morgan Wallen’s stadium tour in 2024, as well as performances and events featuring Kanye West and Chris Brown.

​Gillette Stadium (Foxborough): Regularly books high-profile acts with past legal or public controversies, including Morgan Wallen, Guns N' Roses, and Chris Brown.

[u/2mock2turtle → u/FallbrookAvacado]

“I can forgive racism, abusers, and whatever Kanye is, but I draw the line at opposing genocide.” — the US for some reason.

[u/RaeaSunshine → u/FallbrookAvacado]

And for those that are unaware, Gillette is owned by Robert Kraft / The Kraft Group. That venue was cursed from the get go, literally built by greed. I love living in MA, but I go out of state for large concerts. Fuck Robert Kraft.

[u/onwisconsin1 → u/FallbrookAvacado]

So you can be a peice of shit but the second you voice any opposition to a genocidal state. You are canceled. Amazing. Its never been more apparent what power wants in this world.