Updated September 16, 2026: Four support acts connected to upcoming dates on Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour have withdrawn after Macklemore was removed from the US leg following pro-Palestinian comments made on stage.
Macklemore’s removal from Ed Sheeran’s US tour has turned into a much bigger music-industry story, with artists pulling out, venue owners under scrutiny and questions about who ultimately controls what can be said on a stadium stage.
If you have seen the headlines and wondered what actually happened, here is what we know so far.
What happened at the MetLife Stadium show?
Macklemore, whose real name is Benjamin Haggerty, was supporting Ed Sheeran at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on September 4.
While introducing his protest song Hind’s Hall, Macklemore made a series of pro-Palestinian comments and told the crowd “Free Palestine”.
According to ABC News, Macklemore later said the comments were the reason he was removed from the remaining US dates of Sheeran’s tour.
Who actually dropped Macklemore from the tour?
Sheeran says the decision was not his.
Messina Touring Group, which promotes the US leg of the tour, told media that venue owners on upcoming dates had notified the promoter they would not allow concerts to proceed with Macklemore on the line-up.
The promoter said that, after discussions with stakeholders, Macklemore would no longer appear on the remaining support dates.
Sheeran later wrote on Instagram that “Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter’s decision, it was not mine”.
What has Macklemore said?
Macklemore said he and Sheeran had several difficult conversations after the MetLife Stadium performance.
He has continued to defend his decision to speak publicly about Palestinians and has said his criticism of the Israeli government and military actions should not be read as criticism of Jewish people.
Macklemore also alleged that New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, who owns Gillette Stadium, helped rally other stadium owners against his continued involvement in the tour.
That claim has been widely reported, including by The Guardian. The confirmed position from the tour promoter is that multiple venue owners objected to Macklemore remaining on the bill.
Why are the other support acts pulling out?
The story escalated again when Finneas, Aaron Rowe, Beoga and Lukas Graham announced they were withdrawing from upcoming tour dates.
ABC News reported that the four acts pulled out in solidarity with Macklemore.
Finneas said artists should not be silenced when speaking for people they believe are being oppressed. Lukas Graham said wealth should not determine who gets to speak or which suffering is acknowledged.
Aaron Rowe and Lukas Graham had been expected to replace Macklemore on remaining US dates, while Irish band Beoga had been joining Sheeran during parts of his set. Finneas had been scheduled for later dates in South America.
What has Ed Sheeran said about the fallout?
Sheeran has said he did not make the decision to remove Macklemore and would not cancel the wider tour because fans, crew members, musicians and other workers were relying on the shows going ahead.
He has also resisted being drawn into a broader public argument about the war, while saying silence on social media should not be taken as indifference.
Why has this become bigger than one support slot?
The immediate dispute is about Macklemore’s comments and the response from venues and promoters. But the fallout has also opened a wider music-industry question about power on major tours.
At stadium level, an artist may headline the show, but promoters, venue owners, sponsors and other commercial stakeholders can still have significant influence over whether a performance goes ahead and who appears on the bill.
That is why the story has continued to grow. It is now not only about what Macklemore said, but about who gets the final say when political speech and major touring business collide.
What happens next?
Sheeran’s Loop Tour is scheduled to resume in Philadelphia on September 19.
With the support line-up changing quickly, the story is still developing. YELO will update this page as further confirmed information is released.
Sources: ABC News, September 15; ABC News, September 16; The Guardian, September 15.
Featured photo: Macklemore performing live. Alaina Buzas / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0.
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