Macklemore opens Free Palestine tour after Ed Sheeran support role ended
Macklemore returned to the stage for his Free Palestine tour after his removal from Ed Sheeran’s support lineup.
By Daniel Okafor · Business Editor
2 min read
Macklemore opened his Free Palestine tour on Thursday, returning to the stage after his support role on Ed Sheeran’s US tour ended following pro-Palestinian remarks, according to Al Jazeera and Newsweek. Videos cited by Newsweek show the rapper using the opening show to repeat his call for “Free Palestine” and broaden the message to other conflicts and immigration enforcement in the United States.
The reports offer limited independently verified detail about the concert itself, but place it after a dispute over Macklemore’s appearances at Sheeran shows. The new tour gives him his own stage for political statements that had prompted criticism and calls for his removal from the earlier dates.
What did Macklemore say at the Free Palestine tour opening?
Newsweek reported that online videos from the first show captured Macklemore saying “I say free Palestine,” before mentioning Sudan, Congo, Lebanon and Haiti. He also referred to people affected by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement who, he said, were afraid to leave their homes.
Al Jazeera reported that Macklemore said “being human is not complicated” as he began the tour. Newsweek also reported that a screen behind him displayed a message about Palestinian deaths and urged courage and action; that was concert messaging reported from the footage, rather than an independent account of the war.
Why did Macklemore’s Ed Sheeran support role end?
During Sheeran’s US tour dates, Macklemore had used his set to make calls for “Free Palestine.” The BBC reported that he made initial remarks at New Jersey performances while introducing his 2024 protest song, “Hind’s Hall”.
The Israeli-American Council then launched a petition calling on Sheeran to remove Macklemore from the remaining dates, the BBC reported. Al Jazeera and Newsweek later reported that Macklemore was dropped as Sheeran’s support act, without establishing who made that decision.
Macklemore subsequently said his remarks were not directed at Jewish people. In a social-media video cited by the BBC, he said criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid and opposition to genocide were not criticism of Jewish people. He said his message was one of peace, equal treatment and dignity for all people.
The statements concern the war that began after the Hamas-led attack on Israel on 7 October 2023. The BBC reported that Israel rejects allegations of genocide, says it acts in self-defence and in line with international law, and has called South Africa’s genocide case before the International Court of Justice unfounded. The court case was still being heard in the BBC’s September report.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.