Rapper Macklemore said "Free Palestine" and performed his protest song "Hind's Hall" while opening for singer Ed Sheeran at MetLife Stadium on September 4 and 5. Tour promoter Messina Touring Group removed him from the rest of the tour. Patriots owner Robert Kraft, who also owns tour stop Gillette Stadium, confirmed he pushed for that outcome. On September 15, Sheeran said publicly for the first time that the decision wasn't his. Hours later, four acts — producer Finneas, Danish band Lukas Graham, Irish singer Aaron Rowe, and Irish band Beoga — announced they were quitting the tour too. Sheeran's remaining U.S. dates now have no opening act at all.

1. They Couldn't Stay on a Tour That Silenced Macklemore (Finneas, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe, Beoga)

Four acts walked rather than play a tour that pushed Macklemore off it.

He quit, and called it silencing an artist for speaking up. Finneas posted, "Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed. I have decided to withdraw from my upcoming tour dates with Ed Sheeran. I stand with Palestine and its people."

He turned down the slot Macklemore lost. Aaron Rowe, whom the tour had booked as one of Macklemore's replacements, said, "I cannot stand by and allow billionaires to use their position of power to silence the rightful voices of those who speak up against Israeli genocide."

The Danish band tied the walkout directly to Kraft's wealth. Lukas Graham wrote, "We should be able to speak about war, about civilians being killed, about children who deserve to grow up," and added, "Having more money didn't make your opinion worth more than anyone else's."

A band that's toured with him for over a decade quit too. Beoga said they were leaving "following the silencing of Macklemore by zionist lobbies," while adding, "We have been friends with Ed for over 10 years now and will continue to be."

2. But Kraft Says He Never Banned Macklemore for Criticizing Israel (Robert Kraft, ADL, IAC)

Kraft says he drew a line at hate speech, not at Palestinian advocacy.

He won't host what he calls hate speech. Kraft's statement: "Gillette Stadium has a longstanding commitment to providing a welcoming environment for all guests and ensuring that events held at our venue do not provide a platform for hate speech."

He says he's not disputing anyone's right to advocate for Palestinians. Kraft: "This decision is not about diminishing the suffering of innocent Palestinians or denying anyone the right to advocate on their behalf." He points instead to what he calls Macklemore's broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery.

Two advocacy groups made the same case before Kraft acted. The Israeli-American Council (IAC) argued, "This was an Ed Sheeran concert – not a political rally, not a protest, and not an activist event," and that "freedom of expression does not mean freedom from responsibility." The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) said fans "came for a concert, not performative, biased and hateful anti-Israel 'activism.'"

3. Still, Sheeran Tried to Save the Tour, Then Wouldn't Pick a Side (Ed Sheeran)

He says he fought for Macklemore privately and still won't say who's right.

He spent a week lobbying to keep Macklemore on tour. Sheeran said he'd "spoken with the venues at length all week to try and build a bridge" and been in "direct talks with promoters along with activists on both sides to try and find a mutual resolution."

He says the final call belonged to the promoter, not to him. He posted, "Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter's decision, it was not mine," and pointed out Macklemore's contract was with Messina Touring Group, not with him personally.

He still won't take a position on the war itself. Sheeran said he was "appalled by the conflict between Israel and Palestine" but added, "there is a reason I do not use my professional platform for politics," and "I am not complicit… Just because I choose not to speak publicly, it doesn't mean I don't have opinions, and it doesn't mean I don't care."

Where This Lands

Four acts read Macklemore's removal as a billionaire silencing an artist over Gaza, and walked rather than take his old slot. Kraft, the ADL, and the IAC say they were drawing a line at hate speech, not at criticism of Israel. All three point to Macklemore's history to back that up. Sheeran says he spent a week trying to keep Macklemore on the tour and still won't take a side on the war that caused all of it. Kraft's side hasn't commented on the walkout yet, and Sheeran still has no opener for his remaining U.S. dates.

Sources