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Macklemore removed from tour as Liam Cunningham slams Ed Sheeran
Irish actor Liam Cunningham criticized Ed Sheeran after Macklemore, known for his support for Palestine, was removed from the remaining shows on Sheeran’s U.S. tour. Macklemore said the decision followed difficult discussions with Sheeran and that some stadium owners did not want him to perform.
News that Macklemore would not perform during the remaining U.S. dates of Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour drew a reaction from Irish actor Liam Cunningham, who is known for his support for Palestine.
In a post on X, Cunningham wrote of Sheeran: "We now know who Ed Sheeran is." In another post, the actor also challenged statements that people had remained neutral during Israel’s war on Gaza.
"If you find yourself saying, ‘I’m not taking sides’ during a genocide, you are taking sides. You absolutely are."
Cunningham’s long-standing support for Palestine
Cunningham, who has participated in Palestine solidarity campaigns for many years, said in April 2024 that he had been involved in such activities for 30 to 40 years. The actor has also criticized public figures who remained silent in the face of Israel’s attacks on Gaza.
In an interview in December 2024, Cunningham said standing up to injustice was more important than concerns that doing so could harm his acting career. He said attempts to silence him could only be effective if others allowed them to be.
In 2025, the actor also supported the Global Sumud Flotilla initiative, which aimed to oppose the blockade of Gaza and establish a humanitarian corridor to the region. He met with activists in Barcelona as the mission prepared to depart for Gaza.
Macklemore announces his removal from the tour
In an Instagram post, Macklemore announced that Sheeran and his team had ended his role as the opening act for the remaining U.S. shows on the tour. The rapper said the decision came after a week of "difficult conversations" with Sheeran.
Macklemore said Sheeran, whom he had been friends with for 13 years, told him he would not be allowed to perform at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts, which is operated by Robert Kraft’s company. He claimed that some other stadium owners had also objected to his participation in the tour.
The rapper had performed before Sheeran’s concerts at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on September 4 and 5. Macklemore performed his song "Hind’s Hall," which conveys a message of solidarity with Palestine, wore a keffiyeh and led chants of "Free Palestine" in front of screens showing footage from Gaza.
Speaking to about 80,000 people at the first concert, Macklemore said he wanted to make clear that Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank had not been forgotten.
Addressing Jewish audience members at the second concert, the rapper said criticizing Israel and opposing practices he described as apartheid and genocide did not mean targeting the Jewish people. Macklemore said his message was one of peace and equal dignity for everyone.
In his statement announcing his removal from the tour, Macklemore said neither he nor Sheeran should be viewed as the victim of the dispute. He said attention should remain focused on Palestinians facing death, displacement and hunger.
Ed Sheeran has not publicly responded to Cunningham’s criticism.
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