A Concert with a Message

During his opening set for pop star Ed Sheeran’s “Loop” tour at MetLife Stadium in early September, Grammy-winning rapper Macklemore delivered a two-minute speech in solidarity with Palestinians. Addressing a massive crowd of over 80,000 attendees, he stated that he wanted the people of Gaza and the occupied West Bank to know they had not been forgotten, explicitly calling out “Free Palestine”. Following the speech and his performance of the protest anthem “Hind’s Hall,” the Israeli American Council launched a petition demanding his immediate removal from the tour.

Dropped from the Lineup

In a lengthy Instagram statement, Macklemore confirmed that he had been officially dropped from the remainder of Sheeran’s US tour. According to the rapper, billionaire Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots, rallied stadium owners to pressure tour promoters, allegedly threatening to cancel the concerts entirely if Macklemore remained on the bill. The Messina Touring Group subsequently announced that after “discussions with stakeholders,” Macklemore would not be performing on the remaining tour dates.

The Response from Gaza and Activists

In the wake of his removal, Macklemore received a massive outpouring of support from Palestinian activists and individuals on the ground. Heartfelt messages expressing sentiments like, “From inside Gaza City, thank you, Macklemore. We love you man, and we’re proud of you,” quickly flooded social media, praising his willingness to risk his platform for the cause. Prominent Palestinian-American human rights attorney and activist Noura Erakat publicly praised him, thanking him for recognizing his privilege and “walking through this fire while centering Palestinians”.

Macklemore’s Defiance

Despite the professional fallout and criticism from figures like singer Pink, who argued that his remarks alienated Jewish fans in the audience, Macklemore stood firmly by his statements. He clarified that his criticism was directed solely at the Israeli government and apartheid, stressing that being against genocide “in no way is a criticism” of Jewish people. Concluding his statement, he remarked that if his advocacy cost him the stage but succeeded in turning the conversation back to Palestine, then it was “the most successful tour I’ve ever been on”.

Macklemore calls for Palestinian liberation at MetLife concert

This clip captures Macklemore’s on-stage remarks and performance that directly sparked the recent controversy and led to his removal from the tour.