There has been a lot of discourse over Macklemore and Ed Sheeran since the American rapper was removed from the rest of Sheeran’s US Loop Tour due to Macklemore’s pro-Palestine speech and performance during the two New Jersey shows at MetLife Stadium on September 4 and 5.

Since then, a lot has happened.

Many have wondered how this all began.

Here is a breakdown of what has happened so far:

September 4 - Macklemore calls for Free Palestine as the opening act for Ed Sheeran’s U.S. Loop Tour // Stadium owners like Robert Kraft rally against Macklemore

Macklemore, who has been an outspoken supporter of Palestinian liberation, said “Free Palestine” during his set, then performed “Hind’s Hall,” a song named for Hind Rajab, a 5-year-old Palestinian girl killed by Israeli troops in Gaza in 2024, and inspired by the Gaza Solidarity Encampment at Columbia University. As he sang, images of the destroyed city appeared on the screens behind him. In his speech, he states, “The people all the way in Gaza to the occupied West Bank know that we have not forgotten about them. I say: Free Palestine. I say: Free Lebanon. Free Cuba to the Congo to Sudan to Iran.”

This caused apparent outrage from New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft, who – according to The Wall Street Journal – called Sheeran and his team, Loop Tour promoters Messina Touring Group, to tell them that he and other NFL stadium owners – including Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper, Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank, and Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie – would not host Sheeran’s tour as long as Macklemore was part of it. Kraft stated that Macklemore’s comments constituted “hate speech.” WSJ states the owners were allegedly told that Macklemore would not bring Palestine up again.

September 5 - Macklemore continues his stance for Free Palestine

The next day, on September 5, Night two of the New Jersey show, Macklemore mentioned Palestine again, telling the crowd that he “wanted to stand up here on stages and stadiums across America and say two words that are very near and dear to my heart: Free Palestine!” He then addresses his “Jewish brothers and sisters in the audience,” clarifying that his criticisms towards Israel and apartheid, “being against genocide,” are not a criticism of them. He adds that he wanted the people in Gaza and the West Bank to know they have not been forgotten.

September 6 - 12 - News and social sites pick up Macklemore’s speech, causing opponents to call him out

News media outlets and social media picked up his comments, with both support and opposition to the Grammy-winning artist. The Israeli-American Council petitioned Sheeran to remove Macklemore from his tour. Singers Pink and Boy George went to social media to call out the rapper’s comments.

September 14 - Sheeran’s U.S. Loop Tour drops Macklemore; Macklemore and Kraft respond

A few days later, on September 14, the Messina Touring Group released a statement to Rolling Stone , announcing that Macklemore was being dropped from the rest of Sheeran’s U.S. tour. They stated, “As the concert promoter for Ed Sheeran’s U.S. Loop Tour, 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, which would result in the cancellation of the tour and impact hundreds of thousands of fans. After discussions with stakeholders, Macklemore will not be performing on the remaining support dates.”

That same day, Macklemore took to social media to explain his side of the story . He said he, Sheeran, and Pink are not victims because they have “careers, money, opportunities, safety, and audiences around the world.” He states the real victims are the Palestinian people – “the men, women, and children who have been killed, starved, displaced, and forced to live through unimaginable violence.” He explains that Sheeran has been his friend for many year s, calling him like a “brother,” and that they’ve had “difficult conversations” that ended in disagreement. Though their friendship is important to Macklemore, he states, “our friendship can’t change my responsibility to tell the truth about what happened,” explaining that Kraft gave Sheeran an “ultimatum: if Macklemore stays on the tour, you will not be allowed to play in our venues. ” He adds that Sheeran was in a “fucked up position” and that “his typical apolitical stance was being challenged in a way it never had been before.” Sheeran told him that he could not take sides. Macklemore continues in his statement, discussing the importance of his words and actions, which he has been saying on stages around the world for the past three years, and why he felt he was being silenced.

Macklemore received support from several public figures , including Zara Larsson, Greta Thunberg, Ms. Rachel, Florence Pugh, Penélope Cruz, Kneecap, Hannah Einbinder, Miguel, Rachel Zegler, Kehlani, Cara Delevingne, Pink Floyd , Amanda Seyfried, Chase Infiniti, Bella Hadid, Hozier, and Lewis Hamilton.

A few hours later, Kraft r eleased his own statement to NBC News , admitting to the decision not to allow Macklemore into his stadium, stating that he would like to sit down with the artist “and discuss the facts, because ultimately our goal is the same – peace for all people, an end to suffering, and an end to all hate.” In the statement, he says, “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 we believe has been deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community, we determined that his participation in the September 25th and 26th concerts at Gillette Stadium would cross that line.”

September 15 - Sheeran released his own statement / His supporting acts withdrew from the tour

After Macklemore’s statement, Sheeran faced criticism for his apolitical stance, despite his previous support for Ukraine, Jeremy Corbyn, and Brexit . Sheeran released his own statement on social media : “I am appalled by the conflict between Israel and Palestine. The suffering and pain caused on both sides is a human tragedy. There are too many wars across the world causing immeasurable pain, none of which should be tolerated.”

He states that all his supporting acts can play a setlist of their choosing. After Macklemore’s New Jersey performances, Sheeran learned that venues would pull shows Macklemore would be part of and named Kraft as one of the venue owners. He said he tried to build a bridge between the two sides, but the “venue and promoter’s decision was final.” Macklemore’s removal from the tour was at the promoter’s behest . He then notes , “I have always used my platform and music to bring people from all backgrounds and cultures together, and this won’t ever change. Those who have been to one of my shows will know that they are about unity, joy, escapism, love, and a place for everyone to feel welcome. I am not complicit. I have my personal views on this devastating conflict. Just because I choose not to speak publicly, it doesn’t mean I don’t have them, and it doesn’t mean I don’t care. Nor does it mean I don’t support causes in my own, personal way.” He adds that he doesn’t use his professional platform for politics, as he doesn’t want to be considered a political forum. He “respects Macklemore’s strength of purpose to stand up and shout for what he believes in.” He ends by saying he chooses his platform in a different way and approach .

Sheeran’s Supporting Acts Dropped Out of the Tour

Following Sheeran’s statement, his supporting acts, Danish pop band Lukas Graham, Irish singer Aaron Rowe, and Grammy Award-winning American artist Finneas, announced on their social media that they have dropped out of the tour in solidarity with Macklemore and Palestine. The Irish band Beoga, who were Sheeran’s touring band, also joined in to leave the tour.

Lukas Graham said in their statement, “It’s hard to watch families in other parts of the world burying the people they love. We should be able to speak about war, about civilians being killed, about children who deserve to grow up, wherever they live. Whatever flag flies over them.” They then call out those in power/with money, “Having more money didn’t make your opinion worth more than anyone else’s. Money doesn’t give you the right to own the conversation. Nobody’s bank balance should decide who gets to speak or which suffering we’re allowed to acknowledge.” The duo appreciate their friendship with Sheeran. Still, they cannot “put these words out into the world and carry on with this tour as things stand,” and apologize to their fans for not being there.

Rowe posted their statement on social media , revealing his decision to withdraw from Sheeran’s tour. He states: “I don’t take [this] decision lightly. Ed has been a friend to me and has changed my life. I could never thank him enough for this. But as Irish people, we know all too well about genocide, forced famine, and violent occupation. I cannot stand by and allow billionaires to use their position of power to silence the rightful voices of those who speak up against Israeli genocide and who highlight the savage murder of children. I would lose all respect for myself to carry on as normal. I need to be true to myself and my ancestors who resisted [colonization] and fought for a freedom that I enjoy today in Ireland. Free Palestine.” This past Friday, September 18, Rowe went on Instagram Live and told his followers that the criticism is going towards the wrong person: “I think you are all focusing on the wrong person here. All I keep hearing is Ed Sheeran this, Ed Sheeran that. When you really should be focusing on the likes of Robert Kraft.” He accuses Kraft of attempting to silence free speech over the conflict. He notes that Sheeran made a mistake, and that his friend’s official statement could have been “a lot better.” He also says, “Macklemore should never have been pulled from the tour.”

Finneas stated on his Instagram, “Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed. I have decided to withdraw from my upcoming tour dates with Ed Sheeran. I stand with Palestine and its people.”

On Instagram, Beoga said in a statement : “We have made the decision to depart as Ed Sheeran’s band on the remaining US Loop tour, following the silencing of Macklemore by zionist lobbies. We are a traditional Irish band who never saw ourselves playing in stadiums of that size, and that opportunity is not lost on us. We have been friends with Ed for over 10 years now and will continue to be. We believe in dialogue as a means of progressing the plight of the Palestinian people.” They add that silencing anyone for a Free Palestine was simply not an option for them. The five-member Irish folk band calls out Kraft and the Zionist lobby for silencing Macklemore’s voice as they were present for his performance and speech. They note, “We fully support his message, so did most of the audience in MetLife Stadium, which terrifies the lobbies. Go back and read the transcript if you’re in doubt.” As Irish people who understand colonialism and founding members of the Irish Artists for Palestine, they said they are committed activists for justice and will remain so.

Macklemore experiences a surge on the music charts

According to Forbes , Macklemore’s music saw an increase in streams, with seven songs and four albums hitting the iTunes Charts. “Hind’s Hall” ranked in the Top 10 Songs List.

September 16 - Macklemore donates his Loop Tour earnings ($1 million) to Palestinian organizations; challenges Kraft to match it; Kraft states he’s matching Sheeran’s donation to the cause

On September 16, Macklemore announced on social medi a that he would donate $1 million – his entire net earnings from the Loop Tour – to six organizations that support the Palestinian people: the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, HEAL Palestine, Gaza Soup Kitchen, Medical Aid for Palestinians, American Near East Refugee Aid, and UNRWA USA National Committee. He then invited Kraft to match his donation , stating, “Whatever we disagree about, perhaps we can agree on this: Palestinian lives are worth protecting. A Palestinian life is no less valuable than any other life on this earth.” He notes that the conversation has never been about him, the tour, or the controversy that stemmed from it: “It is about Palestinians’ right to freedom, dignity, and safety in their own homeland.” He continues calling for justice for Palestine, ending his statement with, “When the news cycle moves on, which it will, don’t move with it. Free Palestine.”

The same day, Kraft then issued another statement via the Gillette Stadium social media, revealing that he had conversations with Sheeran to match the British singer’s own $2 million donation to the cause. The statement reads , “I’ve dedicated much of my life to building bridges between all people. I believe deeply that all lives are worth protecting. Earlier today, before Macklemore challenged me to match his donation, Ed called me and asked me to commit $2 million to match his donation to aid in the region to fight this humanitarian crisis. Ed now plans to reach out to other venue owners, and our goal is to continue to work together to build bridges.” He then adds that he’s “supported efforts that create opportunity for Palestinians and have brought young Palestinians and Israelis together to build businesses, create jobs, and forge relationships.” Kraft did not say in his statement which organizations or efforts the money would go to.

September 17 - Ms. Rachel matches Macklemore’s donation

American educator and activist Ms. Rachel announced on her social media that she will match Macklemore’s donation and “invites every wealthy white celebrity to match it and speak out against the genocide in Gaza.” She notes that “over 20,000 precious Palestinian children have been killed and children continue to be killed every day” and “we have a moral obligation to use our privilege and platforms to protect children and human rights.” Macklemore responded to her post, “Wowwww… Love you so much ✨❤️🇵🇸”

September 18 - Resale Prices for Ed Sheeran Show Plummets to 50%

According to the secondary ticket resale site TickPick , the get-in price for Sheeran’s Philadelphia show has nearly been cut in half. The Lincoln Financial Field show saw a 2.5x rise in resale tickets sold.

September 19 - Ed Sheeran opened his Philadelphia show at Lincoln Financial Field with an apology

On Saturday night, September 19, Sheeran opened his show with an apology to his fans. He addressed the crowd, saying this isn’t how he normally starts a show, but he wanted to say a few words about the past week. The singer is used to criticism of his music, which doesn’t really bother him because he knows fans appreciate his songs.

He explains, “But this week, the criticism was about something much more important, and I had to make difficult decisions – and I am making mistakes. I’m so, so sorry. I don’t want to disappoint fans, and I never wanted to be an activist musician, but this has put me in the middle of an important and impassioned argument about freedom of speech and the most complex political issue on the planet.”

He says his concerts have always been a safe space for everyone, and honoring his fans is central to who he is. He says, emotionally, “That’s why I am here tonight – on my own – and continuing my current tour.”

He calls out his concerns about venues pre-approving performers, which happens in places that he’s performed at all around the world – “but should never happen in the free world.” He then addresses where he stands regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict, noting that “I’ve tried in my career not to be a political commentator of any kind because I want my music and shows to be about unity, not division, about humanity, not politics.”

He mentions the October 7 attacks being “horrific and compounded centuries of Jewish pain,” and the events in Gaza are “catastrophic, unjustifiable, and disproportionate.” He says, “My heart has been broken by the scale of devastation and loss of civilians’ lives, of children’s lives, and the systemic injustice we’re seeing unfold in the West Bank cannot be overlooked. I am already speaking [with] people across the spectrum to work out how to make a contribution that helps victims of these terrible times, and listening and learning – because I do not know enough.”

He thanked his fans who showed up. He concluded, “This concert is still a place where everyone is welcome. Everyone here can stand beside people who have opposing views. Everyone here can stand by people that they don’t agree with on everything, but they can all agree I’m singing these songs – and these songs are about love, hope, and unity.”

Despite his openers and tour band withdrawing from the show, he found a group of musicians who agreed to join him, despite the backlash, and learn the songs in three days. Although Sheeran uses his loop pedal for much of the show, some sets require a band. He tells the crowd, “How am I going to get musicians to stand on stage with me in a week when no one wants to stand on stage with me? I rang up a friend of mine who is a superb human being, and I toured with her all of last year and the year before and the year before that. I asked if she would stand on stage with me – and she said yes. I asked if she had musician friends – and she said yes.” He then welcomed his good friend, violinist Alicia Enstrom, and the band – Mike, CJ, and Eric.

Later in the show, the singer said he made some changes to the performance, as he normally would appear on the second stage in the middle of the crowd. But because of the current events, he didn’t feel safe doing so and apologized to the audience. He says, “To be totally honest with you, I didn’t know what this audience would be like tonight. I didn’t know if I’d have things thrown at me.”

Before his show, a pro-Palestinian protest was held outside Sheeran’s concert, planned by The Philly Palestine Coalition including Shut Down Day & Zimmermann, Writers Against the War on Gaza (WAWOG), No ICE Philly, and the Philadelphia Students for Justice in Palestine Coalition. It drew a crowd of around 100 protestor s.

This story is being followed closely.