Ed Sheeran Breaks Silence on Macklemore Being Dropped from Tour: 'It Was the Promoter's Decision, Not Mine'

Ed Sheeran has said Macklemore was removed from the remaining US leg of his Loop Tour after venues told the tour's promoter they would not allow concerts to go ahead with the rapper on the bill, insisting: 'It was the promoter's decision, not mine.'

The singer addressed the issue in a statement posted to Instagram following Macklemore's appearances at his New Jersey shows.

Sheeran said he had tried to reach a 'mutual resolution' through discussions with venues, promoters and activists on both sides, but said the venue and promoter position was final. He also said he would not let down fans who had made plans, or touring crew, musicians and support acts who relied on the shows for work.

The statement sets out Sheeran's account of Macklemore's departure and his reasons for not turning his professional platform into a political forum. It does not name the venues involved, detail the promoter's internal discussions or independently establish the full sequence of events behind the decision.

Ed Sheeran Explains Macklemore's Tour Removal

Sheeran said Macklemore asked to join the tour last year and that he agreed because he respected him as an artist. He said that, as with all his support acts, he allowed Macklemore to perform a set list of his choosing.

After Macklemore's performances at Sheeran's New Jersey shows, the singer said venues on upcoming tour dates communicated that they would pull the concerts if the rapper continued as a support act. He said he was told the concerns related to the way part of Macklemore's message was delivered during his performance.

'I spoke with the venues at length all week to try and build a bridge,' Sheeran said. He added that he was involved in direct talks with promoters and activists on both sides in an attempt to find a resolution.

'Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter's decision, it was not mine,' Sheeran said. 'Macklemore's contract for the tour was with the promoter, not me.'

Sheeran said Robert Kraft was among the people he spoke with during discussions over the issue. He did not disclose the substance of their conversation or describe what role, if any, Kraft played in the eventual decision.

Sheeran Says He Will Not Make Concerts Political

Sheeran said he was 'appalled by the conflict between Israel and Palestine' and described the suffering and pain on both sides as a human tragedy. He said there were too many wars across the world causing immeasurable pain and that none should be tolerated.

The singer said he did not use his professional platform for politics because his audience included young people, often children, from different backgrounds.

He said people who attended his shows did not expect a political forum.

Sheeran said he respected Macklemore's 'strength of purpose' in standing up for what he believed. However, he said there was room for different approaches to the same end: peace.

He said he had always used his platform and music to bring people from different backgrounds and cultures together. Sheeran described his concerts as spaces for 'unity, joy, escapism, love' and somewhere everyone could feel welcome.

'I Am Not Complicit', Sheeran Says

Sheeran rejected any suggestion that his public silence meant he was indifferent to the Israel–Palestine conflict. 'I am not complicit,' he said, adding that he held personal views and supported causes in his own way.

He said he chose to use his fame and public platform as a place of 'safety and sanctuary', and to maintain diplomacy and keep conversations open rather than closed. Sheeran said an approach focused solely on 'shouting the loudest' would not bring change.

The singer's statement provides his direct account of why Macklemore is no longer scheduled to support him on the tour. It makes clear that, according to Sheeran, the final decision was made by the promoter after concerns were raised by venues. The complete chain of discussions has not been independently established.