Macklemore's 'Free Palestine' Tour Funds Group Accused of Celebrating Oct. 7 Attacks

Macklemore's forthcoming "Free Palestine" tour is set to direct its proceeds to organizations including the Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM), a group that has been accused of celebrating the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.

The tour, announced after Macklemore was reportedly dropped from Ed Sheeran's "Loop Tour" for his pro-Palestinian statements and performance of the song "Hind’s Hall," includes three scheduled dates: Oct. 26 in Dublin, Oct. 29 in Paris, and Oct. 30 in London.

According to the tour's website, all proceeds will be distributed among twelve selected organizations, with the PYM being one of them. The Jewish News Syndicate reported that the PYM's U.K. chapter has faced accusations of defending Hamas' actions during the Oct. 7 attacks, which resulted in approximately 1,200 casualties and the taking of 251 civilian hostages. The group has reportedly referred to these actions as "legitimate" and "effective."

Furthermore, a speaker identified with the Palestinian Youth Movement was reportedly heard cheering the Hamas attacks and terrorists during a protest outside the Israeli consulate in New York shortly after the Oct. 7 events. The speaker stated, "Thank you…for raising your voices to celebrate the glorious victory of the resistance. And to honor our martyrs and [we're] marching to show those here in the heart of the empire that they will never defeat our struggle. They have failed to break the unity of our people, and they have failed to dampen the revolutionary spirit of our people who grow stronger every day."

The Jewish Leadership Council (JLC), a U.K.-based Jewish organization, called for greater scrutiny of the organizations receiving funds from Macklemore's concerts. "When the Palestinian Youth Movement praises young people joining armed factions and describes the 7 October massacre as a ‘prison break’, it risks legitimizing violence against Jews," the JLC stated. "At a time of grave violence and threats against Jewish communities, Live Nation must show how it will protect Jewish audiences and staff from antisemitic incitement and harassment."

The JLC also raised concerns about Live Nation's vetting process for the beneficiary organizations, questioning "who will ultimately receive the proceeds and what safeguards will prevent the money being used to fund conduct that threatens the safety of Jews in this country."

The Israeli-American Council (IAC), which had previously called for Macklemore's removal from Sheeran's tour, reiterated its concerns, stating that the rapper's actions "reinforce the concerns that led the IAC to launch its petition." The IAC clarified that their objection was not to Macklemore's right to support Palestinians but to "the normalization of antisemitic rhetoric that disregards the suffering and humanity of Jews and Israelis."

Fox News Digital has reached out to Macklemore's representatives and the PYM for comment. Live Nation was also contacted for comment but had not immediately responded.

In addition to the tour, Macklemore announced last month he would be donating $1 million earned from Sheeran's tour to six other organizations, including the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, HEAL Palestine, Gaza Soup Kitchen, Medical Aid for Palestinians, UNRWA USA National Committee, and American Near East Refugee Aid.