Rapper Macklemore is embarking on a "Free Palestine" tour, which he announced on Thursday, days after his removal from Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour. The tour, set to begin in Dublin next month, will direct proceeds to organizations aiding Palestinians. Macklemore, whose legal name is Benjamin Haggerty, stated that recent events have highlighted a "collective awakening around Palestinian liberation" and the influence of those attempting to censor such calls.
Macklemore addressed the controversy on Thursday, asserting that his situation is "bigger than one artist or one stage." He emphasized the importance of attention when "the billionaire class can decide which voices are allowed on stage and which ones are too dangerous to hear." He also mentioned that he has been connecting with other artists who have used their platforms to express solidarity with the Palestinian people.
The new tour's schedule includes stops in Dublin on October 26, Paris on October 29, and London on October 30. Additional U.S. dates are planned, with further ticket sales expected next week. Macklemore noted that some details are still being finalized due to the tour's rapid organization, but stressed the "moment of momentum" and the need for continued action.
During an early September performance as an opening act for Sheeran in New Jersey, Macklemore vocally supported Palestine, stating his desire to "stand up in stadiums like this and say two words that are very, very dear to my heart: Free Palestine." He then performed a song dedicated to pro-Palestinian protesters at Columbia University.
Following his removal from Sheeran's tour on September 14, Macklemore accused stadium owners of conspiring to sideline him. He also faced accusations of hate speech and antisemitic rhetoric concerning Israel and Gaza from billionaire stadium owner Robert Kraft.
Sheeran previously stated that the decision to remove Macklemore from his tour was made by concert promoter Messina Touring Group. The fallout from Macklemore's comments led all of Sheeran's support acts to withdraw in solidarity, resulting in fan dissatisfaction and a drop in ticket prices for the tour.
Sheeran addressed the controversy publicly last week, admitting to having made "mistakes" in handling the situation. He apologized to fans and offered his perspective on the Israel-Gaza conflict, characterizing it as a "humanitarian issue." He condemned the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023, as "horrific" while also describing the situation in Gaza as "unjustifiable and disproportionate."