Ed Sheeran stated that Robert Kraft rallied other stadium owners with an ultimatum that if Macklemore stayed on the tour, they would not be allowed to play in those venues.
Posted by Behind the Bastards, Checked
- Sources
- 3 support2 context
- Said
- 1 time·
- Confidence
- 45%
Behind the BastardsOct 3, 2026
The sources show that Macklemore alleged Sheeran told him Kraft rallied other stadium owners with this ultimatum, and that venues did refuse to host Macklemore, but no source reports Sheeran himself confirming or denying the ultimatum. The claim is about Sheeran's own statement, so the sources do not settle it either way.
The host relays this claim without endorsing it. It counts as passed on, not against the post.
What was said
… Unquote Funnily enough, those shows ended up getting canceled anyway due to severe weather warnings, but Kraft allegedly did not stop there. According to a post by Macklemore following his removal from the tour, Sheeran apparently said that Kraft had rallied other stadium owners with an ultimatum, quoting from that post: If Macklemore stays on the tour, you will not be allowed to play in our venues. McSina Touring Group, the promoter of the US. Portion of Sheeran's tour, said in a statement that they were notified by venues from the upcoming US. Tour dates that they would not allow a concert to take place with Macklemore in the lineup. …
Behind the Bastards · · from the transcriptPost →What we found
Supports. Messina Touring Group, the promoter, told Rolling Stone that venue owners on upcoming US dates said they would not allow a concert with Macklemore in the lineup, which partly corroborates that venues objected.[1]
Supports. Kraft confirmed in a statement that Macklemore would not play the two Gillette Stadium shows, citing hate speech concerns, which corroborates part of the account but not the claimed multi-owner ultimatum.[2][3]
Context. Macklemore's Instagram post is the source of the ultimatum account, saying Sheeran told him Kraft rallied other stadium owners to issue the ultimatum; this is the claimant's allegation, not independent confirmation.[2][4][5]
Context. Sheeran's Instagram response said the decision to drop Macklemore was the promoter's, not his, and he offered to 'set out some facts'; the available excerpts do not show him addressing the Kraft ultimatum.[1][5]
Sources
5 sources: 1 fact-checker, 2 not rated, 2 tier 2
- 1Ed Sheeran says dropping Macklemore from US concert tour was not his decisionreuters.com · fact-checker · cited for: supports, context
- 2Robert Kraft confirms Macklemore dropped from Gillette shows after 'antisemitic rhetoric'wmur.com · not rated · cited for: supports, context
- 3Macklemore says stadium owners gave Ed Sheeran ultimatum after ...stuff.co.nz · not rated · cited for: supports
- 4Macklemore says Ed Sheeran dropped him from Gillette concert ...cbsnews.com · tier 2 · cited for: context
- 5Ed Sheeran responds to Macklemore over Robert Kraft tour ...nbcnews.com · tier 2 · cited for: context
Where this claim was made
Said in 1 published post
Related claims
- Robert Kraft barred Macklemore from appearing at the Boston shows at Gillette Stadium.True
- Robert Kraft stated he barred Macklemore due to recent actions, material shared from the stage during Ed Sheeran's shows in New Jersey, and a broader history of anti-Semitic rhetoric and imagery.True
- Macklemore has been dropped from the Ed Sheeran tour.True
- Robert Kraft stated that Macklemore's history made him unfit to perform at Gillette Stadium.True
- Macklemore was removed from a tour with Ed Sheeran after making pro-Palestine statements at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.True