Macklemore has been removed from the remaining U.S. dates of Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour after making onstage calls for “Free Palestine” at two concerts this month.

The Seattle rapper opened for Sheeran at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on September 4 and 5. During those performances, Macklemore told the crowd he joined the tour in part to say, “two words that are very near and dear to my heart: Free Palestine.” He also performed his 2024 protest song “Hind’s Hall,” which addresses the Israel-Hamas conflict that began after the October 7, 2023, attacks, and displayed related imagery.

He posted his onstage remarks on X, with the caption: "Wanting all humans to be treated equal should never be controversial."

Macklemore drew immediate criticism from the Anti-Defamation League, StopAntisemitism, and the Israeli-American Council. The latter launched a petition urging Sheeran and venues to drop the rapper, arguing the comments turned the concerts into political advocacy.

On Monday, promoter Messina Touring Group confirmed the decision in a statement to Rolling Stone. Venues for upcoming dates notified the promoter they would not host shows with Macklemore on the bill, a stance that risked canceling the tour and affecting hundreds of thousands of fans. After discussions with stakeholders, Macklemore was removed from the remaining support slots.

The tour resumes September 19 in Philadelphia. Macklemore had been scheduled for eight of the ten remaining U.S. shows.

In an Instagram statement, Macklemore said Sheeran and his team made the decision after difficult conversations. He claimed Sheeran told him that New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, whose company owns Gillette Stadium, said Macklemore would not perform there and that other stadium owners issued a similar ultimatum. Macklemore said the words “cost me the stage” but redirected attention to the underlying issue.

Sheeran has not publicly commented on the matter.