Coverage dated September 13, 2026 to September 19, 2026

Acts quit Sheeran tour after Macklemore ousted for remarks

Headline from The Columbian, from the development of Sep 15, 2026

Newest development Sep 16, 2026 · 3 reportsThe Macklemore-Ed Sheeran Dispute Is a Corporate Threat to Free Speech

NEW YORK — Four supporting acts, including all scheduled opening acts, quit Ed Sheeran’s tour on Tuesday after the rapper Macklemore was removed for pro-Palestinian comments onstage during a recent show.

The Columbian's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.

Earlier updates in this story

Developments in this update

3 dated developments, oldest first, newest marked. Each is named by one outlet's own headline; open its reports to see every outlet that covered it.

  1. Macklemore dropped from Ed Sheeran tour after pro-Palestinian remarks

    Headline from FOX8 WGHP ·

  2. Names this update

    Acts quit Sheeran tour after Macklemore ousted for remarks

    Headline from The Columbian ·

  3. Newest

    The Macklemore-Ed Sheeran Dispute Is a Corporate Threat to Free Speech

    Headline from Mother Jones ·

25 reports not tied to one development ·

Read the reports

Reports & sources

230 articles, oldest first.

  1. Just the News

    Rapper Macklemore canceled from remainder of Ed Sheeran tour after onstage 'free Palestine' comments (opens Just the News)

    Published

    Just the News's feed description

    The Seattle-born rapper also made onstage statements in support of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, according to Rolling Stone magazine.

  2. NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

    Macklemore says he was dropped from Ed Sheeran tour after Robert Kraft organized boycott (opens NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth)

    Published

    NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth's feed description

    Macklemore (left) and Robert Kraft (right).

  3. Rolling Stone

    Macklemore Dropped From Ed Sheeran Tour After Onstage ‘Free Palestine’ Statements (opens Rolling Stone)

    Published

    Rolling Stone's feed description

    "We have been notified by venues on the upcoming U.S. tour dates that they will not allow a concert to take place with Macklemore on the lineup," promoter says

  4. Variety

    Macklemore Dropped From Ed Sheeran Tour After ‘Free Palestine’ Speech (opens Variety)

    Published

    Variety's feed description

    Macklemore has been dropped from the remainder of Ed Sheeran’s U.S. Loop Tour after making headlines for saying “free Palestine” on stage and delivering a political speech during the Sept. 4 concert at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

  5. New York Post

    Macklemore dropped from Ed Sheeran tour after onstage ‘Free Palestine’ speech (opens New York Post)

    Published

    New York Post's feed description

    Several venues told the tour's promoter that they would not allow the "Thrift Shop" hitmaker to perform.

  6. New York Post

    Macklemore yanked off Ed Sheeran’s tour after anti-Israel rants anger venues (opens New York Post)

    Published

    New York Post's feed description

    Macklemore has been kicked off the rest of Ed Sheeran’s stadium tour after several venues said they would refuse to let the rapper perform after his anti-Israel rants on stage.

  7. Independent Journal Review

    Macklemore Removed From Sheeran Stadium Dates (opens Independent Journal Review)

    Published

    Independent Journal Review's feed description

    Ed Sheeran’s U.S. Loop Tour dropped Macklemore from the remaining shows after venues balked at his pro-Palestine on-stage remarks, prompting cancellations that affect hundreds of thousands of fans. Promoters say discussions with stakeholders led to Macklemore’s removal, while Macklemore has defended…

  8. Forbes

    Macklemore Removed From Ed Sheeran's Tour After 'Free Palestine' Remarks, Report Says (opens Forbes)

    Published

    Forbes's feed description

    Macklemore defended his remarks last week, saying, “Wanting all humans to be treated equal should never be controversial.”

  9. The Hollywood Reporter

    Macklemore Dropped From Ed Sheeran Tour After Pro-Palestine Comments During Performances (opens The Hollywood Reporter)

    Published

    The Hollywood Reporter's feed description

    Sheeran's tour promoter Messina Touring Group said venues told the company 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."

  10. The Guardian

    Macklemore dropped from Ed Sheeran’s US tour after ‘free Palestine’ speech (opens The Guardian)

    Published

    The Guardian's feed description

    The American rapper will no longer support Sheeran’s US leg of Loop tour after comments at MetLife Stadium show Macklemore has been dropped from the remainder of the US leg of Ed Sheeran ’s Loop tour, after the American rapper drew headlines for saying “free Palestine” on stage at MetLife Stadium in…

  11. Deadline

    Macklemore Dropped From Ed Sheeran Tour After “Free Palestine” Remarks (opens Deadline)

    Published

    Deadline's feed description

    American rapper Macklemore will no longer be supporting Ed Sheeran‘s Loop Tour amid a backlash against his “free Palestine” pleas. As the 4x Grammy winner took the stage for Sheeran’s tour earlier this month at MetLife Stadium, he called for “safety and peace” for all before performing his protest s…

  12. Variety

    Macklemore Speaks Out After Being Dropped From Ed Sheeran Tour, Says Singer Claimed That Saying ‘Free Palestine’ Was ‘Hurtful to a Lot of People’ (opens Variety)

    Published

    Variety's feed description

    Macklemore has responded to being dropped from the remaining U.S. dates of Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour, after comments he made onstage about Palestine drew controversy. The rapper responded in a lengthy post on Instagram in which he seemed to place the blame for the ban on New England Patriots owner Robe…

  13. The Hollywood Reporter

    Macklemore Responds After Removal From Ed Sheeran Tour: “The Victims Are the Palestinian People” (opens The Hollywood Reporter)

    Published

    The Hollywood Reporter's feed description

    The rapper claims that Patriots owner Robert Kraft rallied other stadium owners in an ultimatum to get him removed from the tour, adding that Sheeran's "typical apolitical stance was being challenged in a way it never had been before."

  14. Rolling Stone

    Macklemore Says He Was Dropped From Ed Sheeran Tour After Robert Kraft Pressure Campaign (opens Rolling Stone)

    Published

    Rolling Stone's feed description

    The Seattle rapper claimed the billionaire New England Patriots owner told Sheeran that Macklemore would not be allowed to perform at Gillette Stadium and “rallied” other stadium owners

  15. Q13fox

    Macklemore removed from Ed Sheeran's tour after 'free Palestine' speech (opens Q13fox)

    Published

    Q13fox's feed description

    Macklemore has been dropped from the remainder of Ed Sheeran’s tour over pro-Palestine remarks the rapper made during a recent opening performance.

  16. Breitbart News

    Macklemore Dropped from Ed Sheeran Tour After Unhinged Anti-Israel Tirades (opens Breitbart News)

    Published

    Breitbart News's feed description

    Pop star Ed Sheeran has dumped rapper Macklemore as his opening act after the rapper came under fire for his constant stream of anti-Israel, pro-Palestine, and pro-Hamas tirades from the stage during Sheeran's tour this year.

  17. KTLA Los Angeles

    Macklemore dropped from Ed Sheeran's tour after ‘Free Palestine’ statements (opens KTLA Los Angeles)

    Published

    KTLA Los Angeles's feed description

    Rapper Macklemore has been dropped from the remainder of Ed Sheeran’s U.S. Loop Tour after making headlines for saying “Free Palestine” and other statements on stage in support of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. “As the concert promoter for Ed Sheeran’s U.S.

  18. The Daily Caller

    Macklemore Ousted From Ed Sheeran’s Tour After Alleged Pressure Campaign From Pro-Israel Robert Kraft (opens The Daily Caller)

    Published

    The Daily Caller's feed description

    ‘I didn’t need 10 shows from Ed. I needed 2’

  19. New York Post

    Macklemore blames Jewish NFL owner Robert Kraft for getting kicked off Ed Sheeran tour, paints himself a martyr in wacky statement (opens New York Post)

    Published

    New York Post's feed description

    The "Thrift Shop" rapper issued a self-aggrandizing statement in which he painted himself as a victim of a global conspiracy to silence critics of Israel.

  20. Newsweek

    Macklemore Responds After Ed Sheeran Tour Drops Him: Controversy Explained (opens Newsweek)

    Published

    Newsweek's feed description

    Macklemore said he was dropped from Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour dates after backlash over pro-Palestinian remarks he made onstage.

  21. The New Republic

    NFL Owners Conspire to Get Macklemore Booted From Ed Sheeran’s Tour (opens The New Republic)

    Published

    The New Republic's feed description

    A coalition of NFL owners have deemed Macklemore unfit to perform in their stadiums. The “Thrift Shop” rapper was slated to perform during 10 stops of Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour. That plan was unexpectedly canned Monday, when Sheeran’s representatives announced that the tour would go on without Macklemo…

  22. Breitbart News

    Rapper Macklemore Accuses NFL Owner Robert Kraft of Blacklisting Him from Ed Sheeran Tour (opens Breitbart News)

    Published

    Breitbart News's feed description

    Rapper Macklemore is accusing New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft of getting him blacklisted from Gillette Stadium and other venues.

  23. WFLA

    Macklemore dropped from tour after onstage comments about Palestine: reports (opens WFLA)

    Published

    WFLA's feed description

    TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Macklemore has been dropped from the rest of Ed Sheeran's tour after several venues across the country, including Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, objected to his statements in support of Palestinians, a report from Rolling Stone said.

  24. New York Post

    Macklemore: Ed Sheeran and I had ‘painful disagreement’ over ‘Free Palestine’ speech backlash before tour firing (opens New York Post)

    Published

    New York Post's feed description

    The "Thrift Shop" rapper claimed the "Shape of You" singer "was in a f--ked up position" and that his "typical apolitical stance was being challenged."

  25. WHDH Boston

    Patriots owner Robert Kraft demands Macklemore dropped from Ed Sheeran tour, claims ‘Free Palestine’ is hate speech (opens WHDH Boston)

    Published

    WHDH Boston's feed description

    Musician Macklemore has been cut from Ed Sheeran’s tour following a demand from New England Patriots Owner Robert Kraft over his pro-Palestinian comments onstage. In...

Showing the first 25 of 133 headlines. ·

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