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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Entertainment
Adrian Horton

Ed Sheeran responds to backlash over removing Macklemore from tour after ‘Free Palestine’ comments

Ed Sheeran Macklemore Palestine United States Robert Kraft Gaza MetLife
A man with a guitar sings on stage.
Ed Sheeran on stage in Perth, Australia, in January 2026. Photograph: Mark Surridge/Frontier Touring

Singer Ed Sheeran has responded to the backlash over the removal of Macklemore from his North American Loop tour, following the rapper’s “Free Palestine” speech on stage at MetLife stadium in New Jersey.

In a two-minute speech on 4 September, 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 owners of subsequent stadium tour venues – including Robert Kraft, the billionaire owner of the New England Patriots and a prominent supporter of and donor to Israel – to object to Macklemore’s appearance on the tour.

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