Cut from the tour
American rapper Macklemore has been removed from Ed Sheeran's tour, where he was to perform opening sets. The information comes from the British newspaper The Guardian — a UK-based outlet. According to the publication, the decision came after a pro-Palestine speech made by the artist on stage.
The speech in New Jersey
During a show in New Jersey, in the United States, on September 4, Macklemore took a brief pause between songs. In front of the audience, he said “Free Palestine” — a phrase that translates to “Palestina Livre” in Portuguese. He also stated that he wanted people in Gaza and the West Bank to know that they had not been forgotten.
Repercussions
With the change, Macklemore will no longer open Ed Sheeran's shows. The report does not detail whether there was a replacement or whether the tour schedule will undergo other changes.
The decision was reported by The Guardian and rekindles the discussion about political statements by artists on major international tours.