A photo posted by Macklemore on Instagram
As more artists announced they were leaving Ed Sheeran’s U.S. Loop Tour to support musicians using their platforms to speak out on issues, many people flooded online forums with strong opinions on the topic. But in the halls of Fanshawe College, students were often hesitant to speak their minds.
The controversy erupted Sunday, when rapper Macklemore announced he was dropped from Sheeran’s tour after voicing support for “Free Palestine” on a New Jersey stage.
Since then, all Sheeran’s other supporting acts have dropped out of the tour, reports said Tuesday.
“He shouldn’t have been kicked out just for saying that,” said London Barrett, one of a few students willing to state their opinion on the topic to an XFM News reporter.
While some other students agreed artists should be allowed to use their platforms to speak on political issues, many did not want to give their full names.
Macklemore, an outspoken advocate for Palestinian rights, has repeatedly used his platform to call for a U.S. arms embargo against Israel, including creating two singles about the student protests in the spring of 2024.
“One of the reasons I wanted to come on this tour was because I wanted to stand up here on stages and stadiums across America, and say two words that are very near and dear to my heart: Free Palestine,” Macklemore said on the New Jersey stage Sept. 4.
While he has insisted his comments were not antisemitic, some Israeli advocacy groups disagreed and called for his removal.
In a statement Sunday, Macklemore announced Sheeran and his team removed him from the Loop tour.
“I am not a victim,” Macklemore wrote. “Ed Sheeran is not a victim.”
Ed Sheeran responded to the controversy on Tuesday. “After Macklemore’s performances at my New Jersey shows, venues on my upcoming tour dates communicated that they would pull the shows if he was still supporting… I spoke with the venues at length all week to try and build a bridge… I was also involved in direct talks with promoters along with activists on both sides to try and find a mutual resolution for all,” he said.
