Ed Sheeran has addressed Macklemore being removed from his tour after his ‘Free Palestine‘ speech upset the owners of venues they were set to play.
The singer, 35, released a statement on Tuesday, addressing the American star’s position and reminding fans he will never personally take a publicly political stance.
Ed, who is a father of two, said that his audience is often young people ‘from different backgrounds’, who do not expect his shows to be a political forum.
The Shape Of You hitmaker assured fans that Macklemore’s removal would not affect his tour, as he told them ‘I would never let down the fans who had made plans’.
In Ed’s reaction, which came two days after Macklemore’s own statement, he said: ‘I am appalled by the conflict between Israel and Palestine.
‘The suffering and pain caused on both sides is a human tragedy. There are too many wars across the world causing immeasurable pain, none of which should be tolerated.
‘Macklemore asked to join my tour last year and I agreed, because I respect him as an artist. As with all my support acts, I agree that they play a setlist of their choosing.
Ed Sheeran has addressed Macklemore being removed from his tour after his ‘Free Palestine’ speech upset the owners of the venues they were set to play
‘After Macklemore’s performances at my New Jersey shows, venues on my upcoming tour dates communicated that they would pull the shows if he was still supporting.’
Ed continued by explaining that he had tried to find a resolution so that Macklemore could remain on his tour, but he was not able to.
He said: ‘I was informed that this stance was based on how Macklemore conveyed part of his message during his performance, rather than on everything that was said. I spoke with the venues at length all week to try and build a bridge.
‘One of those people was Robert Kraft. I was also involved in direct talks with promoters along with activists on both sides to try and find a mutual resolution for all, but the venue’s and promoter’s decision was final.
‘Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter’s decision, it was not mine. Macklemore’s contract for the tour was with the promoter, not me.’
Ed then explained that there would be no alterations to the tour he has planned because he would never let his fans down.
He said: ‘I would never let down the fans who had made plans, nor would I abandon the touring crew and the other support acts and musicians who rely on me for work and to make a living.
‘I have always used my platform and music to bring people from all backgrounds and cultures together and this won’t ever change. Those who have been to one of my shows will know that they are about unity, joy, escapism, love, and a place for everyone to feel welcome.
‘I am not complicit. I have my personal views on this devastating conflict. Just because I choose not to speak publicly, it doesn’t mean I don’t have them, and it doesn’t mean I don’t care. Nor does it mean I don’t support causes in my own, personal way.
‘There is a reason I do not use my professional platform for politics – my audience includes young people, often children, of all backgrounds. Those who come to my shows do not expect a political forum.
‘I respect Macklemore’s strength of purpose to stand up and shout for what he believes. However, there is room for multiple approaches to the same end: peace. I choose to use my fame and platform to be a place of safety and sanctuary, to maintain diplomacy and keep conversations open, not closed. If we only focus on shouting the loudest, nothing will ever change.
‘There are different approaches to being an advocate for change. I have spent this week trying to build bridges, to find a solution and unfortunately, was unable to do so. I know who I am, both as a person and as an artist, and those who know my heart know my values too.’
The drama started when Macklemore used his opening set to chant ‘Free Palestine’ and deliver a politically motivated speech.
Macklemore stated that every human being deserves the same freedom, and told the crowd he wanted people in Gaza and the occupied West Bank to know they had not been forgotten.
He then performed his protest song Hind’s Hall while images of the devastation in Gaza were projected on the big screens at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Macklemore also faced a boycott petition calling for his removal from Sheeran’s tour for the blunt and direct language he used onstage.
He was the opening act for Sheeran’s LOOP tour on two consecutive nights, September 4 and September 5, at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium.
Macklemore has also previously voiced support for Palestinians and called out Israel’s conduct in Gaza and the occupied West Bank and has continued doing so for years.
As seen in fan-taken footage, he wore a keffiyeh at one point during his set.
During his performance, he said he had a message to share with the Palestinian people and wanted them to know ‘they have not been forgotten’.
He said: ‘One of the reasons why I wanted to come on this tour was because I wanted to stand up here on stages in stadiums across America and say two words that are very near and dear to my heart: Free Palestine. I said, Free Palestine!
‘I want those words to be loud and clear so that people from Gaza, all the way to the occupied West Bank know that we have not forgotten them.’
Macklemore also faced a boycott petition calling for his removal from Sheeran’s tour for the blunt and direct language he used onstage. Above, Sheeran and Macklemore in 2013 at the MTV Video Music Awards in New York City
Macklemore stated that every human being deserves the same freedom, and told the crowd he wanted people in Gaza and the occupied West Bank to know they had not been forgotten. Above, Macklemore on August 30 performing at the Goldencoast Rap Festival in France
Macklemore also added: ‘I believe that every human being walking on this earth deserves exactly the same freedom, to know safety and peace before knowing the sounds of violence.’
During his speech, he referred to ICE as a ‘terrorist organization’ before shouting: ‘Free Palestine’ and ‘Free Cuba, Congo, Sudan and Iran’.
The Israeli-American Council drew up a petition insisting he should be dropped from the remaining dates of Sheeran’s tour.
The Daily Mail has reached out to Macklemore’s representatives for comment.
It wasn’t known how many signatures the petition collected.
The group’s petition read: ‘This was an Ed Sheeran concert – not a political rally, not a protest, and not an activist event. The issue is not whether Macklemore has the right to hold political views.
‘The question is where the line should be drawn when an opening act uses a global concert platform to advance a one-sided political agenda.’
Fan reaction was split on social media after the two shows, with some defending his onstage war comments as others accused him of anti-Semitic rhetoric.
In 2014, Macklemore issued an apology after wearing a disguise on stage in Seattle that many condemned as an anti-Semitic Jewish caricature
Meanwhile, Pink weighed in on Macklemore’s recent controversy, amid calls from fans for the rapper to be removed from the tour.
The singer, 47, reposted an Instagram Story from StopAntisemitism, which slammed Macklemore’s performance.
The caption on the post read: ‘Awful – Jewish fans bought tickets to see Ed Sheeran sing last night in NJ, not to be ambushed by Macklemore’s anti-Israel propaganda.
‘Instead, Macklemore walked onstage in a keffiyeh, shouted “Free Palestine,” accused Israel of a false “genocide,” and turned a mainstream event into a political nightmare against the Jewish state. Concert-goers are owed apologies and refunds.’
In response, Macklemore appeared to double down on his comments last week, as he posted a clip of his speech from MetLife Stadium with the caption: ‘Wanting all humans to be treated equal should never be controversial’.
Pink did not add any additional commentary aside from re-sharing the post.
The Daily Mail has also reached out to representatives for Pink and Sheeran for comment but has yet to hear back.
In his apology after the Jewish caricature controversy, he said: ‘There is no worse feeling than being misunderstood, especially when people are hurt or offended… I respect all cultures and all people.
Pink reposted an Instagram Story from StopAntisemitism, which slammed Macklemore’s performance and demanded an apology to the concertgoers
‘I would never intentionally put down anybody for the fabric that makes them who they are.
‘I love human beings, love originality, and… happen to love a weird outfit from time to time.’
Macklemore added that he never thought he looked Jewish.
‘Some people there thought I looked like Ringo, some Abe Lincoln. If anything, I thought I looked like Humpty Hump with a bowl cut,’ he added.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login