Ed Sheeran Blames Promoter for Dropping Macklemore From 8 U.S. Tour Dates

Q: Did a billionaire stadium owner secretly orchestrate a nationwide boycott to force Macklemore off the tour?

There is evidence that Robert Kraft helped block Macklemore at least at Gillette Stadium, but there is no independent proof that he secretly orchestrated a nationwide boycott. What is confirmed is that Ed Sheeran said Macklemore’s removal was made by promoter Messina Touring Group and venue operators after multiple stadiums warned they would not host the shows if Macklemore remained on the bill. The promoter publicly backed that account, saying venues on the remaining U.S. dates would not allow the concerts to proceed with Macklemore on the lineup. Kraft himself confirmed only part of the story. He said Gillette Stadium, which he owns, barred Macklemore because of what he described as offensive rhetoric and imagery, and said the venue would not provide a platform for hate speech. But Kraft did not publicly confirm Macklemore’s allegation that he rallied other stadium owners or coordinated a broader effort. The broader boycott claim comes mainly from Macklemore, who said Sheeran told him Kraft had contacted him and helped assemble other venue owners to pressure the tour. Sheeran later said he had spoken with Kraft and others while trying to find a compromise, but did not say Kraft led a coordinated campaign. So the record supports this much: several venues objected, Gillette definitely barred Macklemore, and that pressure led to his removal. The claim that Kraft secretly organized a nationwide effort remains unverified.

3 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · Sep 15

Six Instagram slides from Sheeran said venues threatened to cancel future bookings unless Macklemore was removed after his pro-Palestine remarks, and Sheeran said the promoter made the final call.
Robert Kraft confirmed he pushed to bar Macklemore from Gillette Stadium, saying the rapper had a broader record of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery rather than objecting only to one performance.
Four support acts — Finneas, Lukas Graham, Beoga and Aaron Rowe — quit the tour in solidarity with Macklemore and Palestinians, widening the fallout beyond the lineup change.
Macklemore said Sheeran told him stadium owners had organized a boycott over his comments, exposing how Israel-Gaza politics are now reshaping major U.S. concert tours.