Ed Sheeran wants to clear something up: he did not remove Macklemore from the U.S. leg of his Loop Tour. In an Instagram statement, Sheeran explained that venues told him they would pull their shows if Macklemore remained on the bill after making pro-Palestine statements during his opening sets in New Jersey. According to Sheeran, promoter Messina Touring Group made the final decision to remove him, and he spent the past week trying to build bridges and find a solution, but couldn’t make it happen.
Macklemore responded by saying he still considers Sheeran a brother, but he also criticized his neutral stance, posting that“there is no neutral position between the oppressor and the oppressed.”He named Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft as a driving force behind the ultimatum, and Pink also backed the calls to remove him. The whole situation has fans debating where the line is between an artist’s freedom of expression and the business pressures that come with a massive stadium tour.
The story raises a bigger question about power in the music industry. If a headliner can’t control who opens for them, who really does? Whether you side with Sheeran, Macklemore, or neither, one thing is clear: this one isn’t wrapping up quietly. What do you think, should promoters and venues get a say in who performs?
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.