Ms. Rachel, Kehlani, and MUNA Respond to Macklemore’s Removal From Ed Sheeran Tour

Artists and public figures are speaking out following Macklemore’s removal from Ed Sheeran’s U.S. tour.

Macklemore revealed Monday (Sept. 14) that he was dropped from the remainder of Sheeran’s Loop Tour after repeatedly calling to “Free Palestine” onstage, prompting a number of people to rally behind him.

The controversy began earlier this month when Macklemore used his opening set at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium to call for the liberation of Palestine, stating that he wanted the words “Free Palestine” to reach people in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. His comments drew backlash and a petition demanding his removal from the tour.

Messina Touring Group, the promoter of Sheeran’s U.S. Loop Tour, confirmed Monday that upcoming venues would not allow concerts to proceed with Macklemore on the lineup, noting that keeping him on the bill could cause cancellations affecting hundreds of thousands of fans. Macklemore subsequently shared his own account, alleging that Robert Kraft pressured Sheeran over his participation and that other stadium owners issued similar ultimatums.

Macklemore stated that the controversy is not about losing opening slots on a tour. In his Instagram statement, he argued that attention should stay focused on Palestinians living through the war in Gaza and the West Bank. “I am not a victim. Ed Sheeran is not a victim,” he wrote. “The victims are the Palestinian people.”

That message quickly resonated across the music industry and beyond.

Children’s educator and YouTube star Ms. Rachel shared an Instagram post addressed to Sheeran, arguing that the singer missed an opportunity to stand against punishing artists for supporting Palestinians.

“Ed Sheeran had an opportunity [to] show that we won’t be bullied into punishing people for supporting Palestine,” she wrote. “Instead he caved to people who refuse to accept what the world knows. A genocide is happening in Gaza. We all need to speak on it.”

In her post’s caption, Ms. Rachel focused on children affected by the conflict. “If more than 20,000 white children were killed in another part of the world, everyone would be shouting about it at their concerts,” she wrote. “Treating some children’s lives as less worthy of outage is racist. Silence during a genocide is not neutral.”

The rock band Garbage also issued a blunt statement. The band shared a screenshot of a Rolling Stone headline reporting Macklemore’s removal with the caption, “This is madness. Sheer madness.” The group called the decision “so wildly unjust” and defended Macklemore’s comments as neither violent nor hateful.

Garbage rejected the notion that criticizing Israel or calling for Palestinian rights is inherently antisemitic, asserting that Macklemore was punished for addressing the treatment of Palestinians rather than expressing hatred toward Jewish people. “Macklemore’s words were not antisemitic,” the band wrote. “Yet he is being punished for simple pleading for the occupation, the oppression and the violence to stop.”

MUNA also responded by reposting Rolling Stone‘s Instagram coverage. “Everyone involved in the move to silence free speech about a genocide is utterly pathetic,” the group wrote, adding, “Solidarity with @macklemore.”

R&B star Kehlani voiced support in a comment on Macklemore’s Instagram statement. “A LOT of venues / owners are rallied together this way,” she commented. “Honored to know you brother. Adore you. Behind you!!!!”

Macklemore noted that he does not consider his 13-year friendship with Sheeran to be over despite their disagreement. He described Sheeran as a friend and “brother” and expressed hope that they will continue discussing the issue.

The Loop Tour is scheduled to resume Saturday in Philadelphia without Macklemore. Sheeran has not publicly addressed Macklemore’s statement or the subsequent reactions.

Read Macklemore’s full Instagram statement below.