Jack Antonoff criticizes Ed Sheeran over dropping Macklemore

By Elena Vasquez

The Guardian reported that Ed Sheeran dropped Macklemore from the North American leg of his Loop Tour in September after owners of several stadiums said the rapper could not perform at their venues.

Robert Kraft, the billionaire owner of the New England Patriots, barred Macklemore from Gillette Stadium, according to Macklemore’s post-removal statement.

Macklemore claimed Kraft also “rallied some of the other stadium owners” to push Sheeran to drop him or face cancellation of the shows. Kraft confirmed the Gillette Stadium ban but did not address that claim.

Jack Antonoff told The Guardian in a new interview that Sheeran should have canceled “the whole fucking tour” rather than yield to pressure to boot Macklemore over his comments on the Israel-Gaza war. He said Sheeran “missed a massive, beautiful opportunity there.” He added: “Just cancel the whole fucking tour, then play for free outside each venue, raise a bunch of money, rather than let a fucking billionaire tell you what to do.”

Takeaway: Macklemore’s removal came after stadium restrictions; Kraft did not answer the claim about other owners.

What did Macklemore do at the first two shows?

The Guardian reported these actions by Macklemore at the first two shows, held at MetLife Stadium outside New York City before his removal from the North American itinerary:

• Macklemore called for a “Free Palestine.”
• He expressed solidarity with people in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
• He showed images of the devastation from Israel’s war in Gaza.
• He performed his protest song, “Hind’s Hall.”

Takeaway: Macklemore’s first two shows made the Israel-Gaza war part of his performance, not merely a dispute over his booking.

Who left after Macklemore’s removal?

The Guardian reported that Sheeran’s decision caused a backlash across the touring lineup, with withdrawals extending from the North American itinerary to the planned South American dates.

• Other openers for the North American leg dropped off the trek.
• Finneas, who was set to open the South American leg, pulled out.
• Beoga, the Irish folk band that performed a short set of songs with Sheeran each night, left the trek.

Takeaway: The withdrawals reached two continents, with other North American openers, Finneas and Beoga leaving the lineup.

What is Antonoff’s answer to billionaire pressure?

The Guardian reported that Antonoff, who is Jewish, has faced criticism for expressing solidarity with Palestinians and saying “Free Palestine” onstage. Antonoff said the Macklemore-Sheeran dispute had made him “way more emboldened to say it now, because it’s not in any way a strange, uncomfortable, or controversial thing to say, it’s a deeply human thing to say. If you think it is [controversial] you’re lost in some other sauce that is so crazy.”

Asked about possible pushback from promoters or venue owners, Antonoff said: “They’re going to let some fucking promoter tell me what I can say? Don’t book me. I’ll play for free outside.”

He added: “The reason it’s not an anomaly or niche issue is because we all live in a world where billionaires are constantly telling us what to do. So stand the fuck up.”

Takeaway: Antonoff wants artists to reject billionaire influence; future promoters risk losing those artists if they enforce political limits.