Constitutional Law
Oct. 1, 2026
The First Amendment at the stadium gate: Who controls speech on a public stage?
The First Amendment usually begins with a simple question: Did the government restrict speech? Macklemore's removal from Ed Sheeran's tour shows how difficult that question becomes when government owns the stage but private enterprise controls it.
K. Chike Odiwe
Civil Rights Attorney
The Law Offices of Kenneth C. Odiwe, PC
2880 Zanker Road, Ste 203
San Jose , CA 95134
Fax: (669) 315-4431
The First Amendment usually begins with a simple question: Did the government restrict speech? The controversy surrounding rapper Macklemore and his removal from Ed Sheeran's tour shows how difficult that question becomes when government owns the stage but private enterprise controls who gets to stand on it.
Macklemore says several American venues refused to allow him to perform after he made pro-Palestinian remarks during a September concert at MetLife ...
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