Rapper Macklemore has been removed from Ed Sheeran's ongoing US tour after making pro-Palestinian statements during his opening performances.
Macklemore, whose real name is Benjamin Haggerty, confirmed his departure from the tour on Monday, stating that he had engaged in "difficult conversations" with Sheeran that ultimately resulted in a "fundamental disagreement." The rapper stood by his comments, emphasizing that the Palestinian people in Gaza are the "real victims."
The controversy began on September 4, when Macklemore addressed the audience at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. "A big part of the reason why I wanted to do this tour in the first place is so that I could stand up in stadiums like this and say two words that are very, very dear to my heart: Free Palestine," he declared. He then performed his song "Hind's Hall," which criticizes Israel's military actions in Gaza, accompanied by visuals of the devastation in the region.
Following his remarks, the campaign group StopAntisemitism criticized the rapper, asserting that "Jewish fans bought tickets to see Ed Sheeran sing... not to be ambushed by Macklemore's anti-Israel propaganda." The next night, Macklemore directly addressed Jewish attendees, stating, "Criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide, is in no way a criticism of you." He also conveyed that people in Gaza and the West Bank had not been forgotten.
Israel rejects allegations of genocide and states its military operations in Gaza and the West Bank are conducted in accordance with international law. The Israeli military campaign in Gaza began following Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and the taking of 251 hostages. According to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza, over 73,780 people have been killed during Israel's military campaign.
The backlash against Macklemore escalated, including a petition from the Israeli-American Council urging Sheeran to remove him from the tour. The council argued that Sheeran's concert was "not a political rally, not a protest, and not an activist event" and that Macklemore employed "biased messaging and disputed claims."
Tour promoter Messina Touring Group informed Rolling Stone that venues had stated they would not permit Macklemore to perform, which "would result in the cancellation of the tour and impact hundreds of thousands of fans."
Macklemore acknowledged Sheeran's challenging position but criticized the singer for not taking a definitive stance. "Taking a side can cost you. Money, brand deals, sponsorships, festivals, private shows, relationships and access. I've lost all of those things. But there is no neutral position between the oppressor and the oppressed," Macklemore wrote. He also addressed accusations of antisemitism, arguing that "one of the most effective ways to enforce silence has been to weaponize the accusation of antisemitism." He further stated that conflating criticism of Israel, opposition to Zionism, or saying "Free Palestine" with hatred of Jewish people does not protect Jewish people but rather protects Israel from accountability.
Despite his removal, Macklemore stated that if his words helped to "turn the conversation back to Palestine," the two shows he performed on the tour were the most successful he had ever been on.
The controversy also drew in singer Pink, who is Jewish. After reposting a message critical of Macklemore, she faced significant backlash. Pink later released a statement clarifying that she does not speak for Israel or any government. She explained her criticism of Macklemore's actions, noting that he "stood in front of a stadium full of music-loving families, with violent images from a war on the screens, dedicated a song to the movement of his choice, and then took the mic to tell all of the Jews in the stadium that it wasn't about them."
Pink also referenced a past incident in 2014 where Macklemore apologized for a costume he wore that critics deemed antisemitic. He had previously performed his song "Same Love" at the Grammys while 33 LGBTQ+ couples married on stage.