While performing as the opening act for Sheeran at a concert in early September in New Jersey, Macklemore said: “A big part of the reason why I wanted to do this tour in the first place is so that I could stand up in stadiums like this and say two words that are very, very dear to my heart: Free Palestine.”

The Thrift Shop rapper then performed a song dedicated to pro-Palestinian protesters at Columbia University. The lyrics are critical of Israel’s military actions in Gaza following the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel.

The following night, Macklemore referred to the death toll as a genocide, a claim that Israel rejects.

In response, the Israeli American Council launched a petition demanding his removal from the tour, and the campaign group StopAntisemitism said the musician had ambushed fans with propaganda.

Pop star Pink, who is Jewish, reposted an anti-Macklemore meme and then her own message, explaining her criticism of the rapper’s comments.

Macklemore then posted on Instagram that the media attention “surrounding Pink and what I said” had caused billionaire stadium owner Robert Kraft to call Sheeran.

“Ed told me that Kraft said I would not be allowed to perform in his stadium,” Macklemore wrote of Kraft, who also owns the New England Patriots American football team.

Concert promoter Messina Touring Group said Macklemore was dropped because some venues – such as Kraft’s Gillette Stadium – would cancel Sheeran’s planned concerts if Macklemore remained on the bill.

Kraft, who is Jewish, confirmed he banned the US rapper from performing at Gillette, accusing Macklemore of hate speech and antisemitic rhetoric.

“I agree with Macklemore, too many lives have been lost and there has been too much suffering, but only sharing selective information and ignoring the actions of Hamas is not honest and only advances more divisiveness and hate,” Kraft said.

Macklemore was removed from Sheeran’s tour on 14 September.