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CultureQuiet 5d · day 6

Ed Sheeran drops Macklemore after pro-Palestine performance at MetLife Stadium

A pro-Palestine rap set at the Loop tour sparked backlash, venue pressure, and accusations that billionaire Robert Kraft forced the removal.

newest coverage 5d agosummary written 5d ago3 pieces136 likes & upvotes25 comments BlueskyNewswires

What to know

  • Macklemore's pro-Palestine protest song at MetLife Stadium triggered immediate backlash from pro-Israel groups and led to his removal from remaining tour dates.
  • Macklemore alleged that billionaire Robert Kraft—a prominent Israel supporter with ties to Sheeran—pressured venues to force the rapper's removal, threatening to withhold stadium access.
  • Sheeran claimed neutrality and said the decision was not his own, framing his concerts as apolitical spaces; Palestinian advocacy groups rejected this both-sides approach as complicit.
  • The controversy exposed the costs of taking political stances in music—Macklemore cited lost sponsorships and relationships—and posed a direct challenge to artists' claims of apolitical platforms.

The dispute Whether artists can ethically maintain political neutrality at public events, or whether such neutrality itself constitutes a political choice that benefits the status quo. · positions read across 1 posts and comments

many voices

Neutrality on Palestine-Israel is not a valid moral position and Sheeran's stance is complicit.

  • “The moral choice between standing up against genocide, or pretending to be 'neutral', Is not a "culture war".”

    simonrosenberg.bsky.social · Bluesky ↗
some voices

Concert platforms should remain apolitical spaces where all fans feel welcome regardless of their views.

  • “He wanted his concerts to stay places of "safety and sanctuary", where people could gather regardless of politics.”

    Ed Sheeran · Guardian ↗

“He was "appalled by the conflict", he wrote, adding that the "suffering and pain caused on both sides" was "a human tragedy".”

Ed Sheeran, Headliner, Loop tour · Guardian ↗ · Sep 18

Macklemore Grammy-winning rapper, tour openerEd SheeranEd Sheeran Headliner, Loop tour organizerRobert KraftRobert Kraft New England Patriots owner, Israel supporterStopAntisemitism Pro-Israel advocacy groupPalestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) Palestinian advocacy organization

Ed Sheeran drops Macklemore after pro-Palestine performance at MetLife Stadium
theguardian.com

How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage articlesposts

Peak 2 pieces in two hours at Sep 19, 12 AM; 3 pieces over 6 days (1 article · 2 posts) Sep 19, 12 AM — 2 pieces · 1 article · 1 post — Newswires 1, Bluesky 1Sep 19, 2 AM — 1 piece · 1 post — Bluesky 1Sep 19, 4 AM — quietSep 19, 6 AM — quietSep 19, 8 AM — quietSep 19, 10 AM — quietSep 19, 12 PM — quietSep 19, 2 PM — quietSep 19, 4 PM — quietSep 19, 6 PM — quietSep 19, 8 PM — quietSep 19, 10 PM — quietSep 20, 12 AM — quietSep 20, 2 AM — quietSep 20, 4 AM — quietSep 20, 6 AM — quietSep 20, 8 AM — quietSep 20, 10 AM — quietSep 20, 12 PM — quietSep 20, 2 PM — quietSep 20, 4 PM — quietSep 20, 6 PM — quietSep 20, 8 PM — quietSep 20, 10 PM — quietSep 21, 12 AM — quietSep 21, 2 AM — quietSep 21, 4 AM — quietSep 21, 6 AM — quietSep 21, 8 AM — quietSep 21, 10 AM — quietSep 21, 12 PM — quietSep 21, 2 PM — quietSep 21, 4 PM — quietSep 21, 6 PM — quietSep 21, 8 PM — quietSep 21, 10 PM — quietSep 22, 12 AM — quietSep 22, 2 AM — quietSep 22, 4 AM — quietSep 22, 6 AM — quietSep 22, 8 AM — quietSep 22, 10 AM — quietSep 22, 12 PM — quietSep 22, 2 PM — quietSep 22, 4 PM — quietSep 22, 6 PM — quietSep 22, 8 PM — quietSep 22, 10 PM — quietYesterday, 12 AM — quietYesterday, 2 AM — quietYesterday, 4 AM — quietYesterday, 6 AM — quietYesterday, 8 AM — quietYesterday, 10 AM — quietYesterday, 12 PM — quietYesterday, 2 PM — quietYesterday, 4 PM — quietYesterday, 6 PM — quietYesterday, 8 PM — quietYesterday, 10 PM — quietToday, 12 AM — quietToday, 2 AM — quietToday, 4 AM — quietToday, 6 AM — quietToday, 8 AM — quietToday, 10 AM — quietToday, 12 PM — quiet 1
Sep 20Sep 21Sep 22yesterdaynow · 2:25 PM ET
  1. background

    Palestinian advocacy group rejects Sheeran's "both-sides" framing — The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) rejected Sheeran's statement, characterizing his attempt to balance suffering on both sides as insufficient given what it describes as Israel's genocide against Palestinians.

  2. background

    Sheeran states he was "deeply disappointed" but claims neutrality — Sheeran released a statement saying the decision to drop Macklemore was not his own and that he was "deeply disappointed" by it. He declared himself "appalled by the conflict" and characterized the suffering on both sides as "a human tragedy," while insisting his concerts remain places of "safety and sanctuary" regardless of politics.

  3. 1

    Macklemore accuses Sheeran of prioritizing wealth over principle

    Macklemore responded by articulating the costs of taking a political stance and rejected neutrality, framing the issue as a binary between oppressor and oppressed.

    “Taking a side can cost you. Money, brand deals, sponsorships, festivals, private shows, relationships and access. I've lost all of those things. But there is no neutral position between the oppressor and the oppressed.”
    — Macklemore
    • simonrosenberg.bsky.social

      Silly headline, @theguardian.com . The moral choice between standing up against genocide, or pretending to be ‘neutral’, Is not a “culture war”.

      simonrosenberg.bsky.socialBluesky5d ago26▲view on Bluesky ↗
  4. background

    Robert Kraft accused of pressuring Sheeran to drop Macklemore — Macklemore claimed Robert Kraft—owner of the New England Patriots and founder of the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism—pressured Sheeran by threatening to pull his stadium from tour dates and urge other venues to do the same. Kraft, who has a personal relationship with Sheeran and had the singer perform at his 2022 wedding, reportedly told Sheeran that Macklemore's remarks crossed into hate speech.

  5. background

    Macklemore dropped from remaining tour dates — Macklemore was removed from the rest of the Loop tour following the backlash. Sheeran's team confirmed that multiple venues had objected to Macklemore staying on the bill.

  6. background

    Pro-Israel groups demand Macklemore be pulled from tour — StopAntisemitism accused Macklemore of "ambushing" fans with "anti-Israel propaganda"—a post amplified by singer Pink. The Israeli-American Council called for his removal, questioning where the line should be drawn on political messaging at concerts.

  7. background

    Macklemore performs pro-Palestine song at MetLife Stadium — Grammy-winning rapper Macklemore, supporting Sheeran on the US leg of the Loop tour, performed his 2024 protest song "Hind's Hall" at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey with footage of pro-Palestine demonstrations and Gaza destruction playing behind him, calling for a "free Palestine."

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