A promoter says that venues on future U.S. tour dates will not allow a show to go on with Macklemore on the bill.

Rapper Macklemore is a vocal supporter of Palestine and Gaza residents. During a recent concert at MetLife Stadium, he yelled “Free Palestine!” onstage, projected images of devastation in the area, and performed protest song “Hind’s Hall.”

Now, it seems that American venues are not willing to play ball with the Seattle artist, and he has been dropped from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour.

“After discussions with stakeholders, Macklemore will not be performing on the remaining support dates,” according to Messina Touring Group, the promoter of Loop Tour. This news follows backlash from organizations like StopAntisemitism and others, such as pop star Pink.

  • zqps@sh.itjust.works
    18·
    11 hours ago

    Macklemore posted a statement on this that is nuanced in that it calls Ed a close and valued friend and shows a lot of understanding for exactly this dynamic (it’s primarily the venues), while also making it very clear that Ed Sheeran considers himself “apolitical”, which means aligning yourself with the status quo and siding with the oppressor, and that for Macklemore himself it’s a matter of duty to use his platform to not do that.

    • wewbull@feddit.ukEnglish
      4·
      8 hours ago

      I don’t really believe anyone is “apolitical”. You can choose to distance a yourself from politics, but sometimes it comes to you. Sheeran is in that second situation.

      It shouldn’t be hard for him to take a milquetoast “all loss of life is tragic” position at the very least.