In a statement shared on Instagram, US rapper Macklemore confirmed that “Ed Sheeran and his team” had dropped him from the tour after he said “Free Palestine”.

The campaign to remove Macklemore from the tour was driven by billionaire Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium, who threatened to block Sheeran and his team from using his stadium.

Kraft also rallied other stadium owners across the country to stop the tour from proceeding.

“Ed told me that Kraft said I would not be allowed to perform in his stadium,” Macklemore wrote.

“Ed also told me that Kraft had rallied some of the other stadium owners and collectively they gave him an ultimatum: 'If Macklemore stays on the tour, you will not be allowed to play in our venues.'”

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