Removes featured events from event queries, unless the query is specifically for featured events

remove-featured-events.php

<?php
/**
 * Remove featured events from event queries, unless the query
 * is specifically for featured events.
 */
add_action( 'tribe_events_pre_get_posts', function( $query ) {
	if ( tribe( 'tec.featured_events' )->is_featured_query( $query ) ) {
		return;
	}

	$meta_query = (array) $query->get( 'meta_query' );
	$meta_query[] = array(
		'key' => Tribe__Events__Featured_Events::FEATURED_EVENT_KEY,
		'compare' => 'NOT EXISTS'
	);

	$query->set( 'meta_query', $meta_query );
} );