The Loop tour has become the most talked-about story in music this month, and it’s not about the songs. Macklemore was dropped from the lineup after a pro-Palestine speech at MetLife Stadium, and support acts FINNEAS, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe and Beoga withdrew from the tour in response. Macklemore also pledged his $1 million in tour earnings to six organisations supporting Palestinians.
Bob Geldof has now weighed in, and his target isn’t Ed Sheeran. Geldof said an artist has the absolute right to choose what they want to say and when they want to say it, and added that he admires Macklemore and the artists who walked because leaving was a hard ask. He directed his criticism at Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft and the tour’s promoters instead.
Sheeran addressed the situation on stage in Philadelphia, telling the crowd he made mistakes, describing Gaza as catastrophic and disproportionate, and revealing he removed his B-stage over fears of things being thrown at him. It’s a rare look at the personal cost of a controversy like this one.
Where do you land: should artists speak up at their shows, or keep the politics off the stage?
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.