Additional Coverage:
- Macklemore makes low-key appearance after tour axe as cops plan to attend Ed Sheeran’s Philly show (themirror.com)
Macklemore Makes First Public Appearance Following Removal from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour Amid Heightened Security Measures for Upcoming Concert
Macklemore, 43, was recently spotted out for the first time since being removed from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour, a decision made after the rapper’s pro-Palestinian comments during performances at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on September 4 and 5. His removal from the remaining eight tour dates has sparked significant controversy and led to increased security preparations for Sheeran’s upcoming shows.
Ed Sheeran, 35, now faces the challenge of continuing his tour without any supporting acts or live band members, many of whom have withdrawn in solidarity with Macklemore. The next concert, scheduled for Saturday, September 19, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, will see a notable police presence. Officials are coordinating closely with Sheeran’s team to ensure safety amid anticipated protests.
Philadelphia Police Department spokesperson Jasmine Reilly confirmed that officers will be stationed both inside and outside the venue, with metal detectors in place for attendees. While no direct threats against Sheeran have been reported, local authorities are preparing for demonstrations planned by pro-Palestinian groups upset over Macklemore’s removal due to his outspoken support for Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.
Meanwhile, Macklemore was photographed in Seattle, casually dressed in a purple Real Madrid T-shirt and dark sunglasses, walking with his parents-marking his first public sighting since the tour fallout.
The controversy intensified when Macklemore pointed to New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft in an Instagram statement, alleging that Kraft influenced venues to bar him from performing. Macklemore claimed, “Ed told me that Kraft said I would not be allowed to perform in his stadium,” and that Kraft had rallied other stadium owners to issue an ultimatum: remove Macklemore from the tour or lose access to their venues.
Ed Sheeran acknowledged in his own statement that venue operators, including Kraft, threatened to cancel shows if Macklemore remained on the lineup. Sheeran clarified that the decision to remove Macklemore came from the tour promoter, as Macklemore’s contract was directly with them, not with Sheeran himself.
Kraft later issued a statement expressing that the decision was based on Macklemore’s “recent actions, material shared from the stage during Ed Sheeran’s shows in New Jersey, and a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery” that the Kraft Group found deeply offensive. The statement emphasized the stadium’s commitment to fostering an inclusive environment free from hate speech, deeming Macklemore’s continued performances there unacceptable.
Following Macklemore’s exit, all supporting acts, including Finneas, Irish singer-songwriter Aaron Rowe, Danish band Lukas Graham, and Irish folk group Beoga, also withdrew from the tour, further underscoring the fallout from this complex and sensitive situation.
As Ed Sheeran prepares to take the stage in Philadelphia under tight security, the music world watches closely how this controversy will continue to unfold.