London, UK - British popstar Ed Sheeran on Tuesday denied being behind the decision to remove Macklemore from his tour over pro-Palestinian comments he made onstage.
"Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter's decision, it was not mine," Sheeran wrote in a lengthy Instagram post on Tuesday. "Macklemore's contract for the tour was with the promoter, not me."
The US rapper, who was opening for Sheeran's "Loop Tour," gave a speech condemning Israel's violence against Palestinians in Gaza – found to be genocide by the United Nations – and shouted "Free Palestine!" on stage during two concerts this month at MetLife Stadium.
According to Sheeran, venues on the tour "communicated that they would pull the shows if he was still supporting."
The singer-songwriter said he had been in talks all week with management of the venues, including Robert Kraft, who owns Boston's Gillette Stadium and is an outspoken supporter of Israel. In the end, he was unable to resolve the issue, Sheeran said.
Sheeran also touched on his decision not to comment publicly about political subjects, notably the war in Gaza.
"I am not complicit. I have my personal views on this devastating conflict. Just because I choose not to speak publicly, it doesn't mean I don't care," he added.
"Those who come to my shows do not expect a political forum. I respect Macklemore's strength of purpose."
On Monday, Macklemore wrote on social media that Sheeran and his team were not behind his departure from the tour.
He claimed Kraft had contacted Sheeran to tell him the rapper would not be allowed on stage and had rallied other venues to demand his exclusion.
In a statement, Kraft said that Gillette Stadium would "not provide a platform for hate speech."