Ed Sheeran Addresses Macklemore’s Removal From Tour: “I Am Not Complicit”

A day after dropping Macklemore from his US stadium tour, Ed Sheeran has spoken.On Monday, Macklemore was removed from eight remaining scheduled dates as an opening act on Sheeran's Loop Tour. At two Sheeran shows in New Jersey's MetLife Stadium over Labor Day weekend, the Seattle rapper had used his platform to protest Israel's genocidal military campaign in Gaza and call for a free Palestine, which sparked backlash from the Israeli American Council and other Israel supporters such as Pink. In a message explaining the rationale behind his statements, Macklemore said New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft had spearheaded the effort to get him dropped from the tour. Kraft personally called Sheeran to say the tour would be banned from Boston-area Gillette Stadium if Macklemore stayed on as an opener, and he encouraged fellow stadium owners to adopt the same stance. As a result, promoter Messina Touring Group removed Macklemore from all upcoming shows, stating that due to the protesting venues, the tour would not be able to continue with Macklemore's involvement.Macklemore's statement affirmed his friendship with Sheeran while calling out the singer-songwriter for so staunchly holdin...