Ed Sheeran drops Macklemore from Loop tour after bold move

Macklemore, whose real name is Benjamin Hammond Haggerty, appears to have prioritise humanity over his 13 years of friendship with Ed Sheeran.

The American rapper was dropped from the remaining dates of Sheeran's US Loop Tour following an onstage chant and performance.

For the unversed, during an opening set for the Perfect hitmaker at MetLife Stadium, Macklemore wore a keffiyeh, shouted "Free Palestine," and performed his Gaza protest song, Hind's Hall.

His brave stance prompted severe criticism from groups like the Israeli-American Council, who launched a petition demanding his removal.

Taking to Instagram on Monday night, September 14, the Seattle born artist explained in a detailed 12-slide carousel that Robert Kraft, the billionaire owner of the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium, led a pressure campaign against the Shape Of You singer.

Kraft allegedly told Sheeran that Macklemore would be barred from performing at his stadium and rallied other venue owners to issue a collective ultimatum: drop Macklemore, or Sheeran would not be allowed to play those venues.

The 43-year-old musician cleared that he considers Sheeran as his “brother” and “Nothing I'm writing here is out of spite or because I want to tear down his character. But as I told Ed multiple times on the phone, our friendship can't change my responsibility to tell the truth about what happened.”

“Taking a side can cost you. Money, brand deals, sponsorships, festivals, private shows, relationships and access. I've lost all of those things. But there is no neutral position between the oppressor and the oppressed,” he continued.

Macklemore emphasised that he harbours no hard feelings toward Sheeran and would be open to collaborating with him again in the future,  writing, "Thirteen years of friendship doesn't disappear because of one painful disagreement."

He added, "I hope we both continue listening, studying what is happening in Palestine and wrestling with what neutrality means in a moment like this. My door will always be open to continuing that conversation."

"I didn't need 10 shows from Ed. I needed 2. Two chances to stand in front of 90,000 people and say the words that somehow became too dangerous to say," Macklemore concluded. "But if those words cost me the stage, while turning the conversation back to Palestine, then it was the most successful tour I've ever been on."