Gorillaz's Damon Albarn Displays Palestinian Flag During Concert

Gorillaz frontman Damon Albarn displayed a Palestinian flag during a recent concert in Florida, a move that comes after rapper Macklemore was removed from Ed Sheeran's tour for his pro-Palestinian activism.

Albarn held the flag and draped it over his shoulder while addressing the audience at the Florida show on Thursday, urging them to "Stand your position. Don’t ever be neutral."

The incident follows Macklemore's removal from Sheeran's tour, which has drawn criticism from progressive figures. Representatives for Sheeran have stated he was not involved in the decision.

Macklemore has continued to advocate for his stance, stating on Instagram that he is "not a victim" and that while he and others may face consequences for their statements, they also have the privilege of returning home safely to their families.

Sheeran himself addressed the controversy during a show on Saturday night. He stated his intention to keep his music and shows focused on unity and humanity, rather than politics. However, he also acknowledged the humanitarian situation, describing the Oct. 7 events in Israel as horrific and compounded by historical Jewish pain, while calling the ongoing situation in Gaza "catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate."

This is not the first time Albarn has voiced support for Palestinian causes. The band Gorillaz performed at the "Together for Palestine" concert in 2025, an event benefiting Palestinian organizations. In 2024, during the Glastonbury Festival, Albarn directly asked the audience for their stance on Palestine, inquiring if they felt it was an unfair war.

Gorillaz and Ed Sheeran's representatives were contacted for comment.