By: Olivia Emerick · Copy Chief
English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran faced widespread controversy after his team fired rapper Macklemore from his tour over disagreements regarding Macklemore’s pro-Palestine statements.
While opening for the Loop tour Sept. 5 at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium, Macklemore performed his protest song “Hind’s Hall.” The song is named for Hind Rajab, a 5-year-old Palestinian girl Israeli forces killed after firing on her family’s car.
“A big part of the reason why I wanted to do this tour in the first place is so that I could stand up in stadiums like this and say two words that are very, very dear to my heart: Free Palestine,” Macklemore said before performing the song.
“To all of my Jewish brothers and sisters, criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide, it in no way is criticism of you. This message is for peace, love, for all human beings to be treated with dignity, respect and equality,” he added.
Macklemore received criticism from the Israeli American Council, the campaign group StopAntisemitism and pop star Pink.
Robert Kraft, who owns the New England Patriots American football team and Gillette Stadium, said Sheeran’s planned concerts would be cancelled if Macklemore was performing.
“I agree with Macklemore, too many lives have been lost, and there has been too much suffering, but only sharing selective information and ignoring the actions of Hamas is not honest and only advances more divisiveness and hate,” Kraft said.
The promoter of the tour, Messina Touring Group, decided to remove Macklemore from the lineup due to the controversy. This move upset other performers, ticketholders and listeners.
American singer-songwriter Finneas, Irish folk band Boega, Danish pop band Lukas Graham and Irish singer-songwriter Aaron Rowe quit the tour in support of Macklemore’s pro-Palestine statement.
Sheeran’s next concert on Sept. 19 in Philadelphia had no opening acts. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators protested outside Lincoln Financial Field.
Sheeran addressed the controversy, apologizing for “making mistakes.”
“I don’t want to disappoint fans, and I’ve never wanted to be an activist musician, but this has put me in the middle of an important and passionate argument about freedom of speech and the most complex political issue on the planet,” Sheeran said.
“What happened in Israel and at the Nova Music Festival on Oct. 7 was horrific and compounded centuries of Jewish pain. What is happening in Gaza is catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate.” Sheeran said. “My heart’s been broken by the scale of devastation and the loss of civilians’ lives. Children’s lives.
“This concert is still a place where everyone is welcome, and everyone here can stand beside people that have opposing views. And everyone here can stand by people who they don’t agree with on everything. But they can all agree on singing these songs.”
