Macklemore Removed from Ed Sheeran US Tour Following Pro-Palestinian Statements
13 sources across 9 countries · 1 of them is linked to a state
Who reported this
- The Guardian
- BBC News
- Sky News
- Der Spiegel
- Frankfurter Allgemeine
- Haaretz
- The Times of Israel
- Folha de S.Paulo
- France 24
- Telex
- Tempo English
- Al Jazeera
- MS NOW
What the colours mean
- Left
- Centre-left
- Centre
- Centre-right
- Right
- A hatched block means the outlet is affiliated with, or controlled by, a state.
Political lean describes where an outlet sits within the politics of its own country. It is never a position on a single global scale.
Political lean is comparable inside one country and not across them, which is why the bar groups by country first. Publicly funded broadcasters are not marked as state-linked.
The owner of each outlet is listed as a matter of record, not as a judgement about the outlet.
Rapper Macklemore has been dropped as the opening act for the remainder of Ed Sheeran's US Loop tour after making pro-Palestinian comments during performances at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. During a September 4 concert, Macklemore told the audience that one reason he joined the tour was to say the words Free Palestine from major stadium stages. He also performed his song Hind's Hall while images of devastation in Gaza were displayed on screens. The following night, he addressed Jewish audience members, stating that criticism of Israel, apartheid, and genocide is not a criticism of them.
Tour promoter Messina Touring Group told Rolling Stone that several venues informed them they would not allow Macklemore to perform. The promoter stated that keeping him on the lineup would have resulted in the cancellation of the tour and impacted hundreds of thousands of fans. Robert Kraft, owner of Gillette Stadium and the New England Patriots, confirmed he barred the rapper from his venue. Kraft cited Macklemore's recent actions and a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric, though he stated the decision was not intended to diminish the suffering of innocent Palestinians.
Macklemore confirmed his removal in a lengthy Instagram post, claiming that Kraft rallied other stadium owners to give Sheeran an ultimatum. He described Sheeran as a friend of 13 years but criticized the singer for maintaining a public stance of not taking sides. Macklemore argued that there is no neutral position when dealing with oppressors and the oppressed.
The event drew various reactions from public figures and organizations. The Israeli American Council and the group StopAntisemitism criticized the rapper for using a concert platform for political propaganda. Singer Pink also expressed concern, stating that as a Jewish mother, the rhetoric was frightening, while Javier Bardem called for a boycott of Ed Sheeran following the rapper's removal. Ed Sheeran has not publicly commented on the situation.
How each side framed it
- Left
- These outlets framed the event as a case of ideological censorship and highlighted the hypocrisy of those who oppose cancel culture but support this removal.
- Centre-left
- These sources highlighted the conflict between artistic expression and the influence of stadium owners.
- Centre
- These outlets focused on the sequence of events, the promoter's logistical concerns, and the specific statements made by both parties.
- Centre-right
- This coverage focused on the disruption of the concert experience and the rapper's use of the stage for political purposes.
Sources
- Centre-left Al Jazeera: Macklemore cut from Ed Sheeran tour for pro-Palestine stance
- Centre-left Al Jazeera: Macklemore dropped from Ed Sheeran tour following Palestine advocacy
- Centre BBC News: Macklemore dropped from Ed Sheeran tour after 'Free Palestine' speech
- Centre-left Der Spiegel: Ed Sheeran kicks Macklemore out of his tour
- Centre Folha de S.Paulo: Javier Bardem calls for boycott of Ed Sheeran after Macklemore controversy
- Centre France 24: Macklemore dropped from Ed Sheeran's tour after pro-Palestinian remarks
- Centre-right Frankfurter Allgemeine: "Free Palestine" calls: Macklemore is no longer part of the Ed Sheeran tour
- Left Haaretz: Macklemore dropped from Ed Sheeran tour after pro-Israel campaign over support for Palestinians
- Left MS NOW: The outrageous hypocrisy in Macklemore being canceled
- Centre Sky News: Macklemore 'removed' from Ed Sheeran tour over 'Free Palestine' comment
- Centre Telex: Macklemore kicked out of Ed Sheeran's tour because of pro Palestine statements
- Centre-left Tempo English: Macklemore Dropped from Ed Sheeran Tour Over Pro-Palestine Remarks
- Centre-left The Guardian: Macklemore dropped from Ed Sheeran’s US tour after ‘free Palestine’ speech
- Centre The Times of Israel: Macklemore dropped from Ed Sheeran tour after ‘Free Palestine’ MetLife set
100% of the statements in this article were traced back to the source articles listed above.