Story perspectives

Ed Sheeran Drops Macklemore After Pro-Palestine Remarks

By Drooid · Sep 16, 2026, 10:01 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Ed Sheeran removed Macklemore from his U.S. Loop Tour after Macklemore voiced pro-Palestine remarks.
Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft and venue owners warned promoters Macklemore could not appear or shows would be canceled.
Ed Sheeran said the promoter Messina Touring Group made the final decision to drop Macklemore.
Ed Sheeran lost about 150,000 Instagram followers while Macklemore gained roughly 750,000.

History

Historical Context

The ICCPR, adopted by the UN General Assembly on 16 December 1966 and effective 23 March 1976, obliges parties to protect freedom of expression (Article 19). The United States Senate ratified it in 1992 with reservations that limit domestic effect. In 2024, Ed Sheeran’s removal of Macklemore from the Loop Tour at Gillette Stadium, pressured by Robert Kraft, revived debate over how venue contracts align with the covenant’s speech protections.

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Story summary

Ed Sheeran removed Macklemore from his U.S. Loop Tour after Macklemore voiced pro-Palestine remarks.
Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft and venue owners warned promoters Macklemore could not appear or shows would be canceled.
Ed Sheeran said the promoter Messina Touring Group made the final decision to drop Macklemore.
Ed Sheeran lost about 150,000 Instagram followers while Macklemore gained roughly 750,000.

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