Overview
- Messina Touring Group removed Macklemore from the remaining U.S. dates after venues warned they would cancel shows, a decision that followed venue owner Robert Kraft’s public refusal to allow the rapper at Gillette Stadium and widespread backlash to his onstage “Free Palestine” remarks.
- All scheduled opening acts — Finneas, Aaron Rowe, Lukas Graham — plus Sheeran’s backing band Beoga quit the tour in protest, leaving the Loop Tour without its announced supports and creating immediate logistical and reputational strains.
- Ed Sheeran said the promoter and venues made the removal decision and that he was "not complicit," while Macklemore accused Kraft of rallying other stadium owners to pressure the tour.
- Macklemore pledged his full $1 million in net tour earnings to six Palestinian aid groups and invited Kraft to match the gift, and Kraft responded that Sheeran asked him to commit $2 million toward humanitarian relief.
- The episode has raised fresh debate over private venue control of public expression, could prompt ticketing and lineup changes when the tour is due to resume on Sept. 19, and may prompt closer scrutiny of how stadium owners, promoters and artists handle politically charged speech.