Macklemore sidelined: Ed Sheeran insists it wasn’t his decision

This statement comes a day after the announcement of Macklemore’s withdrawal. The American rapper explained that this removal followed his comments in support of Palestinians during concerts held on September 4 and 5 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

Ed Sheeran claims that several venues scheduled for the remainder of the tour refused to host Macklemore. He mentioned that he had discussions for a week with their representatives, the promoter Messina Touring Group, activists from both sides, and Robert Kraft, owner of Gillette Stadium.

“Macklemore’s removal was the promoter’s decision, not mine,” he wrote. He clarified that the rapper’s contract was signed with the promoter and not directly with him.

Messina Touring Group had already indicated that several venues would not allow the concerts to proceed if Macklemore remained on the bill. The group stated that they had removed the artist after discussions with the various parties to avoid the cancellation of multiple dates and its consequences for the audience and the teams.

In his own statement, Macklemore mentioned having “difficult” but respectful conversations with Ed Sheeran. He maintains that his support for Palestinians and his call for a “free Palestine” are at the heart of the disagreement. The organizers and Robert Kraft, for their part, cited concerns about how part of the message was presented and issues related to antisemitism.

Ed Sheeran expressed respect for Macklemore’s right to choose his repertoire and how he advocates for his beliefs. However, he explained that he prefers not to turn his concerts into political platforms, while asserting that he has personal opinions on the conflict.

Benin Web TV reported on Monday Macklemore’s removal from the last eight opening acts. Ed Sheeran’s new statement does not change this removal but contests that he was the decision-maker.