Macklemore stepped out with his parents in Seattle on Wednesday, marking his first public appearance since being axed from Ed Sheeran’s tour.
The “Thrift Shop” rapper, 43, was photographed walking between his father, Bill Haggerty, and his mother, Julie Schott, while sipping coconut water, according to images. The trio appeared locked in a serious conversation as they moved along the sidewalk.
Macklemore, born Benjamin Haggerty, dressed casually for the family stroll, wearing jeans and a purple Real Madrid jersey. The outing came just days after several of that soccer club’s players covered up portions of their T-shirts bearing a message of support for Ceuta, the Spanish city at the center of a migration crisis. Kylian Mbappé explained Tuesday that he doesn’t “want to prioritize one form of suffering over another.”
The Seattle walk also landed two days after reports surfaced that Macklemore had been dropped from Sheeran’s Loop Tour over onstage remarks about Palestine and Gaza.
Macklemore took to Instagram with a statement, saying the “Perfect” singer, 35, and his team removed him following what he called a “painful disagreement.” The rapper claimed Sheeran was pressured by New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft to drop him due to his political stance.
The “Glorious” hitmaker said the billionaire, whose Kraft Group owns and operates Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, rallied other stadium owners who collectively delivered Sheeran what Macklemore described as “an ultimatum: if Macklemore stays on the tour, you will not be allowed to play in our venues.”
Sheeran fired back with his own statement, insisting he “spoke with the venues at length all week to try and build a bridge.” The “Shape of You” singer denied any personal role in the rapper’s removal.
“Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter’s decision, it was not mine. Macklemore’s contract for the tour was with the promoter, not me,” he wrote.
Sheeran continued: “I would never let down the fans who had made plans, nor would I abandon the touring crew and the other support acts and musicians who rely on me for work and to make a living.”
In a remarkable show of solidarity, all of Sheeran’s remaining tour openers dropped out of the Loop Tour. Finneas, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe and Beoga each withdrew following Macklemore’s exit.
Finneas wrote on Instagram Tuesday: “Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed. … I stand with Palestine and its people.”
The fan backlash extended to financial demands, with concertgoers requesting refunds from Ticketmaster after Macklemore’s firing.
Amid the escalating controversy, Macklemore announced he would donate his entire $1 million in tour earnings to six Palestinian aid organizations.
Kraft subsequently pledged $2 million “to aid in the region to fight this humanitarian crisis.” The businessman, 85, maintained that he’s dedicated his life to helping people come together and believes that “all lives are worth protecting.” Kraft also expressed willingness to sit down with Macklemore to discuss their political differences.
The entire cascade began when Macklemore made onstage remarks about Palestine and the people of Gaza during his appearances as an opening act on Sheeran’s Loop Tour. Those comments triggered the chain of events that led to his removal, the solidarity withdrawals by fellow openers, and the dueling statements between the rapper and Sheeran over who bore responsibility for the decision.
Macklemore has not announced any new tour dates to replace the canceled appearances.