UPDATE: This story has been updated to include a statement from Ed Sheeran.
Hit recording artist Macklemore, who was scheduled to appear with Ed Sheeran during multiple U.S. tour stops this fall, will no longer be opening for the artist following backlash to comments he made supporting Palestine during a recent show.
While opening for Ed Sheeran in New Jersey, Macklemore delivered a pro-Palestine speech saying he wanted to bring attention back to the region and that criticism of the actions in Gaza and the West Bank are not antisemitic, according to fan videos.
Now, according to reporting from Rolling Stone and a post made by Macklemore on Instagram, the rapper has been removed from Sheeran's remaining tour stops thanks to a coordinated effort
by Robert Kraft, the owner of the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium.
Macklemore was previously scheduled to appear with Sheeran at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta in October.
What did Macklemore say on Instagram?
"I'm not sure how to start this. So I'm going to speak from the heart and share the truth. Ed Sheeran and his team have made the decision to remove me from The Loop Tour," Macklemore, whose name is Ben Haggerty, started his statement on Instagram on Sept. 14.
The artist went on to say that he and Sheeran were not victims, and said the "victims are the Palestinian people."
"I want to make sure that as I tell this story, we don't lose sight of that," Haggerty said. He went on to say long conversations with Sheeran were rooted in friendship after the two have known each other for more than a decade, and that his post was not intended to "tear down his character."
Last week, in the "middle of all the media attention" when musical artist Pink responded to some of Haggerty's comments, Macklemore said Kraft called Sheeran and told him the LOOP performances would not be allowed to play in Gillette Stadium if Macklemore was still performing.
"Ed also told me that Kraft rallied some of the other stadium owners and collectively they gave him an ultimatum: if Macklemore stays on the tour, you will not be allowed to play in our venues," Haggerty said. Sheeran and his team then made the decision to drop Macklemore from the remaining U.S. tour dates.
In a statement to Rolling Stone, Messina Touring Group which is promoting the U.S. leg of Sheeran's tour, said they had been notified by specific venues that they would not allow Macklemore to perform.
The message from venues "would result in the cancellation of the tour and impact hundreds of thousands of fans," the promoter told the outlet. "After discussions with stakeholders, Macklemore will not be performing on the remaining support dates."
Will Macklemore be on the LOOP tour stop in Atlanta?
On Tuesday, a spokesperson for Mercedes-Benz Stadium confirmed to USA TODAY Macklemore will no longer be appearing with Ed Sheeran during the Oct. 3 concert.
Sheeran will appear with "special guests" Lukas Graham and Aaron Rowe in Atlanta, according to the venue.
The LOOP concert with Ed Sheeran will go on as scheduled. Gates open for the concert at 4:30 p.m., with a show start time of 5:30 p.m.
Parking, ticketing and other concert information can be found here.
Ed Sheeran says decision came down to the promoters
In a statement shared on Instagram Tuesday, Sheeran said the decision to drop Macklemore came down to the tour promoters, and was not a decision he made. He echoed Macklemore in describing the conversation with Kraft, and said he ultimately wanted to make sure his crew and all those who make the concerts possible were able to move forward.
"As with all my support acts, I agree that they play a setlist of their choosing," Sheeran wrote. "After Macklemore's performances at my New Jersey shows, venues on my upcoming tour dates communicated that they would pull the shows if he was still supporting. I was informed that this stance was based on how Macklemore conveyed part of his message during his performance, rather than on everything that was said."
Sheeran went on to say he believes his shows should remain apolitical, as he has been publicly throughout his career, and that he is "not complicit."
"I have my personal views on this devastating conflict. Just because I choose not to speak publicly, it doesn't mean I don't have them, and it doesn't mean I don't care. Nor does it mean I don't support causes in my own, personal way," Sheeran wrote. "I have spent this week trying to build bridges, to find a solution and unfortunately, was unable to do so. I know who I am, both as a person and as an artist, and those who know my heart know my values too."
Kraft responds, calls for no 'hate speech'
USA TODAY Sports obtained a statement from Kraft, which can be read in full here.
“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. Based on Macklemore’s recent actions, material shared from the stage during Ed Sheeran’s shows in New Jersey, and a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery that we believe has been deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community, we determined that his participation in the September 25th and 26th concerts at Gillette Stadium would cross that line," Kraft began his statement.
He went on to say the decision "is not about diminishing the suffering of innocent Palestinians or denying anyone the right to advocate on their behalf."
Kraft said he would be open to a discussion with Macklemore "because ultimately our goal is the same – peace for all people, an end to suffering, and an end to all hate.”
Contributing: Nate Davis, USA TODAY Sports
Irene Wright covers Mercedes-Benz Stadium and events as the Atlanta Connect reporter with USA Today’s Deep South Connect team. Find her on X @IreneEWright or email her at ismith@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Will Macklemore appear with Ed Sheeran in Atlanta? Controversy spirals
