Ed Sheeran Says Removing Macklemore from Tour Was Not His Decision: ‘I Have Spent This Week Trying to Build Bridges’

“It’s important that I set out some facts,” Sheeran captioned an Instagram post on Tuesday, Sept. 15

NEED TO KNOW

• Ed Sheeran has addressed Macklemore’s removal from his Loop Tour
• “I spoke with the venues at length all week to try and build a bridge,” the pop star wrote in an Instagram statement on Tuesday, Sept. 15
• Rolling Stone reported on Monday, Sept. 14 that Macklemore had been removed from the tour following his comments in support of Palestinians

Ed Sheeran has broken his silence on Macklemore’s exit from his tour.

After Rolling Stone reported on Monday, Sept. 14, that the rapper had been removed from the “Shape of You” artist’s Loop Tour and Macklemore, 43, shared a statement on Instagram addressing his removal, Sheeran shared an Instagram statement of his own about the situation on Tuesday, Sept. 15.

“I am appalled by the conflict between Israel and Palestine,” the “Perfect” artist, 35, began. “The suffering and pain caused on both sides is a human tragedy. There are too many wars across the world causing immeasurable pain, none of which should be tolerated. Macklemore asked to join my tour last year and I agreed, because I respect him as an artist. As with all my support acts, I agree that they play a setlist of their choosing.”

He added that after Macklemore’s sets at his New Jersey concerts, “venues on my upcoming tour dates communicated that they would pull the shows if he was still supporting.”

“I was informed that this stance was based on how Macklemore conveyed part of his message during his performance, rather than on everything that was said,” Sheeran wrote. “I spoke with the venues at length all week to try and build a bridge. One of those people was Robert Kraft. I was also involved in direct talks with promoters along with activists on both sides to try and find a mutual resolution for all, but the venue’s and promoter’s decision was final.”

He continued: “Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter’s decision, it was not mine. Macklemore’s contract for the tour was with the promoter, not me. I would never let down the fans who had made plans, nor would I abandon the touring crew and the other support acts and musicians who rely on me for work and to make a living.”

Sheeran then claimed that he has “always used my platform and music to bring people from all backgrounds and cultures together and this won’t ever change.”

“Those who have been to one of my shows will know that they are about unity, joy, escapism, love, and a place for everyone to feel welcome,”he wrote, before adding: “I am not complicit. I have my personal views on this devastating conflict. Just because I choose not to speak publicly, it doesn’t mean I don’t have them, and it doesn’t mean I don’t care. Nor does it mean I don’t support causes in my own, personal way.”

Sheeran then claimed that “there is a reason I do not use my professional platform for politics.”

“My audience includes young people, often children, of all backgrounds. Those who come to my shows do not expect a political forum. I respect Macklemore’s strength of purpose to stand up and shout for what he believes. However, there is room for multiple approaches to the same end: peace. I choose to use my fame and platform to be a place of safety and sanctuary, to maintain diplomacy and keep conversations open, not closed. If we only focus on shouting the loudest, nothing will ever change. There are different approaches to being an advocate for change,” he wrote.

Sheeran concluded: “I have spent this week trying to build bridges, to find a solution and unfortunately, was unable to do so. I know who I am, both as a person and as an artist, and those who know my heart know my values too.”

“It’s important that I set out some facts,” the four-time Grammy winner captioned the post.

Sheeran’s statement follows one Macklemore made on Monday addressing his removal from the tour and revealing he and his longtime friend “had some difficult conversations this past week.”

“[We had] the type of talks rooted in love and respect for one another that still end in a place of fundamental disagreement,” the “Thrift Shop” performer wrote. “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.”

Macklemore then recalled an alleged call between Sheeran and Robert Kraft, who, through the Kraft Group, owns Gillette Stadium, where the tour is scheduled to stop later this month.

“Ed told me that Kraft said I would not be allowed to perform in his stadium,” he wrote. “Ed also told me that Kraft had rallied some of the other stadium owners and collectively they gave him an ultimatum: if Macklemore stays on the tour, you will not be allowed to play in our venues.”

Concert promoter Messina Touring Group shared a statement with Rolling Stone on Monday addressing the situation.

“As the concert promoter for Ed Sheeran’s U.S. Loop Tour, 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. After discussions with stakeholders, Macklemore will not be performing on the remaining support dates,” it read.

At the time, PEOPLE contacted Sheeran, as well as Messina Touring Group, for comment.

Allegedly, the venues that called for Macklemore’s removal were Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia; Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.; Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta; Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis; Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C.; AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas; and Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla., per Rolling Stone.

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Kraft shared a statement with PEOPLE on Monday as well, explaining his decision.

“Gillette Stadium has a longstanding commitment to providing a welcoming environment for all guests and ensuring that events held at our venue do not provide a platform for hate speech. Based on Macklemore’s recent actions, material shared from the stage during Ed Sheeran’s shows in New Jersey, and a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery that we believe has been deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community, we determined that his participation in the September 25th and 26th concerts at Gillette Stadium would cross that line,” he said.

Kraft continued: “This decision is not about diminishing the suffering of innocent Palestinians or denying anyone the right to advocate on their behalf. Their pain and loss are real. But that advocacy should not come at the expense of the Jewish community or obscure the responsibility of Hamas, a United States and globally (including Canada, European Union, United Kingdom, and Japan) designated terrorist organization whose horrific actions have caused immeasurable suffering for Palestinians and Israelis alike.”

“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. Over many decades, I have directed resources to Palestine and created athletic and entrepreneurial opportunities for Palestinians who I admire and respect. Standing with the Palestinian people and standing against Hamas, antisemitism and hate should not be mutually exclusive,” he said.

“Much of my time and attention for the last decade has been focused on the fight against antisemitism and hate of all kinds, and I feel a responsibility to stand up when I believe that line has been crossed. I have tremendous respect for Ed and his music, particularly his unique ability to bring people together and spread joy, and I have always been proud to welcome him and his fans to Gillette Stadium. I would welcome the opportunity to sit down with Macklemore and discuss the facts, because ultimately our goal is the same – peace for all people, an end to suffering, and an end to all hate,” Kraft concluded.

In Macklemore’s statement, he also noted that Sheeran, who previously remained silent on his political views, was in a “f—ed up position.”

The “Can’t Hold Us” performer said Sheeran had spoken with many people who felt the rapper’s use of the Palestinian flag and the words “Free Palestine” were “hurtful.”

“I told him that if those words were more offensive than tens of thousands of Palestinian children being killed by Israel, then there was a fundamental disconnect between where those people stood and where I stood,” Macklemore wrote.

He added that “there is no neutral position between the oppressor and the oppressed.”

Macklemore also claimed that those opposed to supporting Palestine “weaponize the accusation of antisemitism,” which is equally unfair as “antisemitism is real” and shouldn’t be used as a “shield against criticism of the Israeli state.”

Macklemore then said that he hoped that despite the end to their touring stretch, the disagreement doesn’t mean the end of their friendship. But Macklemore said he stands by his decision to be vocal about injustice in Palestine because the consequence of being removed does not equate to “an entire people being displaced, starved and killed.”

“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 to dangerous to say, Free Palestine,” he 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.”

During Macklemore’s first appearance on the Loop tour on Sept. 4, he shared his support for the Palestinians.

“A big part of the reason why I wanted to do this tour in the first place is so I could stand up in stadiums like this and say two words that are very near and dear to my heart: ‘Free Palestine,’” he said at the time. “I said: ‘Free Palestine!’ I want those words to be loud and clear, so that people all the way in Gaza to the occupied West Bank know that we have not forgotten about them.”

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