Ken Casey Criticizes Ed Sheeran for Dropping Macklemore From Tour
- Dropkick Murphys frontman Ken Casey has criticized Ed Sheeran for dropping Macklemore from his tour following the rapper's pro-Palestine remarks, stating that headlining acts should stand by their...
- According to an interview with Boston Public Radio reported by Consequence, Dropkick Murphys frontman Ken Casey called out Ed Sheeran for failing to support opening act Macklemore.
- Throughout my 30 years as a musician, every single tour we've ever done involved us picking the opening acts ourselves, which embodies family, sisterhood, and brotherhood.
Dropkick Murphys frontman Ken Casey has criticized Ed Sheeran for dropping Macklemore from his tour following the rapper’s pro-Palestine remarks, stating that headlining acts should stand by their opening performers. Macklemore was removed from The Loop Tour after pressure from venues and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, prompting widespread industry debate over tour solidarity and political expression on stage.
Ken Casey Criticizes Ed Sheeran Over Macklemore Tour Removal
According to an interview with Boston Public Radio reported by Consequence, Dropkick Murphys frontman Ken Casey called out Ed Sheeran for failing to support opening act Macklemore. Macklemore was ousted from The Loop Tour following onstage comments supporting Palestinians and criticizing Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
Casey argued that headliners have a duty to protect the artists they bring on the road, drawing on his own three decades of touring experience.
Throughout my 30 years as a musician, every single tour we’ve ever done involved us picking the opening acts ourselves, which embodies family, sisterhood, and brotherhood. You live or die with the people you bring on the road. They’re your people.
Consequence
Casey added that Sheeran’s decision to yield to venue pressure did not align with his own band’s code of conduct.
Ed Sheeran backing down instead of supporting his fellow tour partner, regardless of the underlying reason, simply doesn’t sit right with me. And that’s not how Dropkick Murphys would operate.
Hollywood411News.com
Pressure Campaigns and Venue Ultimatums
Sheeran stated that the decision came from the promoter, Messina Touring Group, alongside pressure from concert venues. Furthermore, statements from Macklemore indicated that New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft—who owns Gillette Stadium in the Boston area—issued an ultimatum to Sheeran to remove the rapper or face cancellation of an upcoming show, while allegedly encouraging other stadium owners to follow suit. Casey maintained that external promoters and venue owners should not dictate the artistic content of a concert.
The promoter is not what the people come to see.
During that set, the band delivered anti-Trump messaging that caused roughly half the audience to walk away. Casey noted that he was immediately informed that the remarks angered the site owner, making a return booking unlikely.
Every artist I looked up to when I was younger remained true to their lyrical themes no matter the circumstances. In my opinion, once you abandon that integrity, your music loses all its value.
Hollywood411News.com
Macklemore and Sheeran Respond to the Fallout
In response, Kraft released a statement claiming that Ed Sheeran had contacted him to commit $2 million toward humanitarian aid in the region. Representatives for Sheeran did not immediately respond to Rolling Stone’s requests for comment regarding that statement.
