Macklemore Claims Robert Kraft Pressured Ed Sheeran To Drop Him Over 'Free Palestine' Speech

Macklemore says he was dropped from the remainder of Ed Sheeran's US Loop tour after a wave of venue objections to his 'Free Palestine' remarks, and claims billionaire New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft personally pressured Sheeran to remove him, according to a lengthy Instagram statement posted on Monday, 14 September.

At the centre of his account is a blunt exchange with Sheeran. Told the phrase 'Free Palestine' was 'hurtful to a lot of people', Macklemore says he replied that if those words were more offensive than 'tens of thousands of Palestinian children being killed', then he and Sheeran stood on opposite sides of something far bigger than a tour.

Macklemore alleges Sheeran told him Kraft, who owns the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium, called and said Macklemore could not perform there, before allegedly rallying other owners behind an ultimatum. Sheeran has not personally addressed the allegations.

Inside the Alleged Kraft Ultimatum

Macklemore said he and Sheeran had several 'difficult conversations' after the alleged Kraft call, ending in what he called a 'fundamental disagreement'. He described his friend's position as 'f***ed up' but said the friendship 'can't change my responsibility to tell the truth'.

Sheeran's team, through promoter Messina Touring Group, gave a narrower, independently confirmed explanation, saying venues on the upcoming dates 'will not allow a concert to take place with Macklemore on the lineup'. The statement made no mention of Kraft and focused on the risk of the tour being cancelled.

The promoter's version has been corroborated by venues, while the alleged Kraft conversation comes solely from Macklemore's account and has not been independently verified.

The MetLife Speech That Sparked the Row

Macklemore first used the phrase at MetLife Stadium on 4 September, telling the crowd he wanted people 'from Gaza all the way to the occupied West Bank' to know 'we have not forgotten about them'. He repeated it the next night, telling Jewish audience members that criticism of Israel was 'in no way a criticism of you'.

The Israeli American Council responded with a petition demanding his removal, calling the shows 'not a political rally'. StopAntisemitism accused him of 'ambushing' fans with 'anti-Israel propaganda', while Pink said she was not calling for his removal, but the performance had frightened her as a Jewish mother.

Macklemore performed his 2024 song 'Hind's Hall' during the sets, projecting Gaza destruction footage onto the screens. The track is named after Hind Rajab, the six-year-old Palestinian girl whose death in Gaza became an international focus.

Sheeran's Loop Tour Continues Without Him

Macklemore had been due to open eight of the tour's remaining ten shows, resuming 19 September in Philadelphia, with Lukas Graham and Aaron Rowe remaining among the support acts through to the tour's November close in Tampa.

Macklemore insisted he, Sheeran and Pink were not the victims, since all three retained their 'careers, money, opportunities, safety and audiences'.

He said the real victims were Palestinians killed, starved and displaced, citing what he described as more than 20,000 children killed in Gaza.

He closed: 'If those words cost me the stage, while turning the conversation back to Palestine, then it was the most successful tour I've ever been on.'

Fans and Critics Divide Online

The announcement has generated sharply divided reactions online, with supporters defending Macklemore's stance and critics arguing political messaging did not belong in the concert setting. Backers of the petition call his removal appropriate, while others describe it as commercial pressure silencing an artist.

Pink's earlier comments have resurfaced, after she first reposted a message accusing Macklemore of 'ambushing' fans with 'anti-Israel propaganda'. She later clarified that a repost 'isn't a statement', saying she wanted to voice her fear 'as a Jewish mom' without demanding Macklemore be fired.