According to TheGuardian.com, Macklemore has been dropped from the remainder of the U.S. leg of Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour, after the American rapper has caused headlines for saying “free Palestine” on stage at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. In brief speech between songs on September 4, the Grammy-winning artist told the audience he wanted the people of Gaza and “the occupied West Bank” to know “we have not forgotten about them”, prompting a petition from the Israeli American Council demanding his removal from the tour.
Messina Touring Group, the promoter of the US leg of Sheeran’s tour, told Rolling Stone: “As the concert promoter for Ed Sheeran’s US Loop Tour, we have been notified by venues on the upcoming US tour dates that they will not allow a concert to take place with Macklemore on the lineup, which would result in the cancellation of the tour and impact hundreds of thousands of fans. After discussions with stakeholders, Macklemore will not be performing on the remaining support dates.” Sheeran did not immediately reply to requests for comment.
The rapper was slated to open for Sheeran at eight of the remaining 10 shows of his U.S. Loop Tour, which will resume on September 19, in Philadelphia. The venues that allegedly objected to Macklemore’s return include stadiums in that city as well as outside Boston, Atlanta, Charlotte, Indianapolis, Dallas and Tampa.
Photo Credit: April Siese
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