Dropkick Murphys frontman Ken Casey has weighed in on the controversy surrounding Macklemore, who was recently removed from Ed Sheeran’s tour after delivering an impassioned speech regarding the humanitarian crisis in Palestine. The incident, which occurred during a performance at New Jersey’s Gillette Stadium, has sparked a wider conversation about artist solidarity and the responsibilities of headliners toward their support acts.
The decision to drop Macklemore followed intense pressure from various figures, including Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft, who characterized the rapper's comments as offensive. In the wake of the dismissal, a significant number of Sheeran’s support acts and backing band members have withdrawn from the tour in solidarity with the rapper, including artists such as FINNEAS and Lukas Graham.
Speaking with Boston Public Radio, Ken Casey expressed his disapproval of how the situation was managed. "I know that, as a musician for 30 years, anytime we’ve gone on tour we’ve selected the bands that have opened for us – that’s brotherhood, sisterhood, that’s family," Casey stated. "You live or die with the people you bring on the road. They’re your people."
@bostonpublicradio Frontman of the Dropkick Murphys Ken Casey joined Boston Public Radio this week to share his thoughts on the situation surrounding Ed Sheeran, Macklemore and Robert Kraft. #boston #news @Dropkick Murphys
Casey emphasized that the decision to distance himself from a tour partner did not align with his own professional values. "The fact that Ed Sheeran took the knee, no matter what the cause is, and not stood with his fellow tour partner, just doesn’t sit right with me. And that’s not how Dropkick Murphys would operate."
Drawing on his own experience, the musician noted that he has frequently used his platform to voice political opinions, even when it resulted in backlash from venue owners. For Casey, the integrity of an artist's message is paramount. "All the artists I loved as a kid, no matter what, it was that they stand by what they sing about," he added. "Once you let that go, then you don’t have any worth in your music if you ask me."
While Sheeran has publicly stated that he is "not complicit" and views the conflict as a tragedy, the fallout continues to impact his tour. Meanwhile, Macklemore has seen a surge in public support, and other notable figures, including Roger Waters and Massive Attack, have publicly criticized the handling of the situation.