Rapper Macklemore has been dropped from Ed Sheeran’s American tour amid a row over pro-Palestinian comments on stage.

Macklemore hit headlines last Friday (US time), when he took to the stage to open Sheeran’s Loop tour at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium on Friday.

“One of the reasons why I wanted to come on this tour was because I wanted to stand up here on stages in stadiums across America and say two words that are very near and dear to my heart: Free Palestine. I said, Free Palestine!” he said.

His words sparked outrage, including from Jewish groups. Rockstar Pink also got involved, resharing a post from StopAntisemitism criticising Macklemore’s remarks and calling for him to be removed from the tour.

But Macklemore – real name Benjamin Haggerty – stood by his comments.

“To all of my Jewish brothers and sisters: Criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide in no way is a criticism of you,” he said at Saturday night’s performance.

“My message is for peace; love for all human beings to be treated with dignity, respect, and equality.”

On Monday, Macklemore confirmed he’d been cut from the Loop tour.

“Before I get into it, I want to say something that should be obvious … I am not a victim. Ed Sheeran is not a victim. Pink is not a victim,” the Seattle rapper wrote in a lengthy Instagram post.

“We have careers, money, opportunities, safety and audiences around the world. Whatever consequences any of us face for what we say, we get to go home to our families. The victims are the Palestinian people. The men, women and children who have been killed, starved, displaced and forced to live through unimaginable violence.”

Macklemore said Sheeran – who famously avoids making political statements – had been his friend for 13 years, making the controversy even more “difficult”.

“I consider him a brother,” he wrote. “Nothing I’m writing here is out of spite or because I want to tear down his character. But as I told Ed multiple times on the phone, our friendship can’t change my responsibility to tell the truth about what happened.”

Macklemore said Sheeran was pressured by billionaire and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft. He said Kraft called Sheeran ahead of the upcoming show at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, which is owned by the Kraft Group.

“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.”

Sheeran’s US promoter, Messina Touring Group, repeated the claims.

“We have been notified by venues on the upcoming US tour dates that they will not allow a concert to take place with Macklemore on the lineup, which would result in the cancellation of the tour and impact hundreds of thousands of fans,” it said, without naming Kraft or any other venue or owner.

Kraft has confirmed to US media that he was behind the decision to bar Macklemore from performing at Gillette.

“[It was based on his] recent actions, material shared from the stage during Ed Sheeran’s shows in New Jersey, and a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery that we believe has been deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community,” he said.

Kraft, who is Jewish, is a strong supporter of Israel and Jewish causes. He did not say if he had rallied other stadium owners.

Ed Sheeran has not yet commented, and who will replace Macklemore for the rest of tour Loop tour is unknown.