Macklemore’s recent exclusion from Ed Sheeran’s tour has stirred up considerable attention, stemming from a controversy involving New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft. The decision reportedly arose after Macklemore’s comments on the Palestinian territories during a performance in New Jersey.
While opening for Sheeran at MetLife Stadium, Macklemore expressed views that reportedly did not sit well with Kraft. These statements subsequently led to a social media storm after being reshared by singer Pink, who also faced backlash.
In a detailed Instagram post on Monday, Macklemore recounted being informed by Sheeran that Kraft had objected to his presence at Gillette Stadium, a venue owned by Kraft. According to Macklemore, Kraft had even contacted Sheeran directly regarding the matter.
“Ed told me that Kraft said I would not be allowed to perform in his stadium,” Macklemore shared, highlighting Kraft’s influence in rallying other stadium owners against his participation in the tour.
Confirming this stance, a statement from Gillette Stadium was reported by WHDH, emphasizing the venue’s commitment to a welcoming environment and its stance against hate speech. The statement cited Macklemore’s “recent actions” and “a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery” as reasons for his exclusion from the upcoming concerts on September 25th and 26th.
The tour’s promoter, Messina Touring Group, also confirmed to Rolling Stone that Macklemore would not be performing in the remaining shows after some venues expressed their opposition to his appearance.
Attempts to get a comment from Sheeran’s representatives were not successful.
