Ed Sheeran Dropped Macklemore Over 2 Words. 21 Days Later Both Gillette Shows Are Canceled.

UPDATES

Sept. 25, 10:28 a.m. ET — Both Gillette Stadium shows are canceled. Gillette Stadium's own event page: "Due to the severe weather warnings in place in Boston and across New England throughout the weekend and following consultation with local officials, the promoter and tour have made the difficult decision to cancel the Ed Sheeran concerts at Gillette Stadium." Refunds are automatic for Ticketmaster buyers. The venue page credits "the promoter and tour", the same actor Sheeran blamed for the Macklemore removal 9 days earlier. (Gillette Stadium; TMZ)

Sept. 24 — Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell announced a refund agreement with Ticketmaster. Campbell: "After hearing from nearly 200 consumers who were struggling to obtain refunds from Ticketmaster for Ed Sheeran's shows at Gillette Stadium this weekend, my office jumped into action." Macklemore announced a Free Palestine Tour: Dublin Oct. 26, Paris Oct. 29, London Oct. 30.

THE STORY

Macklemore said "Free Palestine" introducing Hind's Hall at MetLife Stadium in early September. His fuller line: "I say Free Palestine, free Cuba, Congo, Sudan and Iran and all the people of America who live in fear because of this terrorist organisation ICE."

Within days he was off Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour.

Macklemore said on Instagram Sept. 14 that Patriots owner Robert Kraft called Sheeran, said he would not be allowed at Gillette, and rallied other stadium owners into an ultimatum. "I am not a victim. Ed Sheeran is not a victim. Pink is not a victim... More than 20,000 children have been killed in Gaza alone."

Kraft's statement the same day cited "a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery" and said he would welcome sitting down with Macklemore. He later told ESPN that Gillette "does not provide a platform for hate speech."

Sheeran answered Sept. 15. The decision was the promoter's, not his. "I am not complicit." Fans, he said, "do not expect a political forum." Sheeran had sung Perfect at Kraft's 2022 wedding.

Rolling Stone later named all seven venues that refused Macklemore: Lincoln Financial Field, Gillette Stadium, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Lucas Oil Stadium, Bank of America Stadium, AT&T Stadium and Raymond James Stadium. Messina Touring Group, Sheeran's US promoter, confirmed it: "We have been notified by venues on the upcoming U.S. tour dates that they will not allow a concert to take place with Macklemore on the lineup, which would result in the cancellation of the tour and impact hundreds of thousands of fans."

Four acts walked

Finneas: "Artists must not be silenced... I stand with Palestine and its people."

Lukas Graham: "Nobody's bank balance should decide who gets to speak."

Beoga, Sheeran's touring band since Galway Girl and founding members of Irish Artists for Palestine: "We have made the decision to depart as Ed Sheeran's band on the remaining US Loop tour, following the silencing of Macklemore by zionist lobbies."

Aaron Rowe, hired as one of Macklemore's replacements, quit before playing a note: "I cannot stand by and allow billionaires to use their position of power to silence the rightful voices of those who speak up against Israeli genocide."

Who said what

Backing Macklemore: Ms. Rachel ("He caved"; "Silence during a genocide is not neutral"), AOC ("a handful of stadium owners and the elite can prevent an entire massive issue, in this case the genocide in Gaza"), Roger Waters, Ilhan Omar, Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud ("Come put on a show here. We'll make it a free concert, sponsored by the City"), Bella Hadid, Hannah Einbinder, Kneecap and Chris Shiflett.

Backing the removal: Robert Kraft, the Israeli American Council, StopAntisemitism, Joe Bonamassa and Disturbed's David Draiman. Pink reshared, then walked it back.

Where it stands

The tour resumed in Philadelphia Sept. 19. The two Gillette dates will never be played. Macklemore has three Free Palestine Tour dates on sale, presale Sept. 28, general sale Sept. 30. Ed Sheeran has said nothing publicly since Sept. 19.

SOURCES: AP via NPR, Rolling Stone, TheWrap, Newsweek, NBC, TMZ, ESPN, Fox29, gillettestadium.com, the Massachusetts Attorney General's office, and the principals' own Instagram and X accounts.