English singer Ed Sheeran has addressed the backlash following the removal of Macklemore from his North American Loop tour. This decision came after Macklemore made a political statement advocating for Palestine during a performance at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on September 4.
Background
During his two-minute speech, Macklemore expressed solidarity with the people of Gaza and the occupied West Bank, stating, "we have not forgotten about them." This prompted objections from stadium owners, including Robert Kraft, a billionaire and prominent supporter of Israel, leading to Macklemore's removal from the tour.
The Messina Touring Group, the promoter for Sheeran's US tour, confirmed Macklemore's removal from the eight planned subsequent dates on September 4. In response, Macklemore released a statement reaffirming his support for Palestine and discussing his political activism with Sheeran.
Sheeran's Response
On September 5, Sheeran took to Instagram to clarify his position, stating, "It’s important that I set out some facts." He expressed his dismay over the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine, calling it a "human tragedy" affecting both sides.
In his post, Sheeran outlined several key points:
- He agreed to have Macklemore on his tour because he respects him as an artist.
- Macklemore was allowed to perform a set list of his choosing, as with all support acts.
- The decision to remove Macklemore was made by the promoter, not by him.
