Actor Michael Rapaport has publicly criticized rapper Macklemore for incorporating pro-Palestinian messages into his opening sets for Ed Sheeran's concerts at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Rapaport, who is Jewish, described Macklemore as a "clown" and an "absolute no talent none singer non rapping non dancing clown" in a series of posts on X, formerly Twitter.
Macklemore, born Benjamin Haggerty, repeatedly chanted "Free Palestine" and performed his anti-Israel song "Hind's Hall" during his performances on Friday and Saturday nights. He told the audience that he intended to use his appearances on Sheeran's tour to advocate for Palestine.
"A big part of the reason why I wanted to do this tour in the first place is so I could stand up in stadiums like this and say two words that are very near and dear to my heart: Free Palestine," Macklemore said in a video shared on social media. He added that he wanted "people all the way in Gaza to the occupied West Bank know that we have not forgotten about them."
Macklemore also drew parallels between parental love for children and the desire for safety and peace for all, stating, "I think that every single human being that walks this earth deserves that exact same feeling. To know safety and peace before they know the sound of violence, to know the sound of laughter on a playground before planes and bombs..."
"Hind's Hall," the song performed by Macklemore, is inspired by the pro-Palestinian campus demonstrations earlier in 2024. The song's title refers to Hamilton Hall at Columbia University, which was occupied by students who renamed it in honor of a Palestinian child. The lyrics of the song reportedly praise anti-Israel encampments and criticize President Biden, police, and the music industry.
Rapaport questioned Ed Sheeran's decision to have Macklemore as an opening act, calling him a "p--- stain." He also reposted an article about the backlash to Macklemore's political statements, writing, "Calling this dude a ‘Rapper' is disrespectful to any actual ‘Rapper.'"
Macklemore's performance also drew criticism from some concert attendees. One fan stated on X that he left the show with his family early due to the political messaging, expressing disappointment that an "Ed Sheeran concert, not a political rally" had devolved into a lecture on Middle East politics. Another attendee described feeling "embarrassed" and "shocked" by Macklemore's set, attributing the reaction to the rapper going "WOKE."
Two concertgoers told Ynet that they were "in shock" and found the performance "horrifying," particularly given their personal connections to the conflict. They stated that hearing the chants and the audience's reaction felt like "a knife in the heart."
Conversely, some social media users expressed support for Macklemore's use of his platform. One Instagram user wrote, "Respect to every artist who refuses to stay silent and uses their platform to speak up for humanity. Macklemore, we hear you." Another comment on X stated, "Art has always been political, why are you annoyed at an artist giving context to a song he released about the current state of the world you live in?"
Macklemore has previously been outspoken in his support for Palestinians, having called the war in Gaza a "genocide" in November 2023 and spoken at pro-Palestinian rallies. He also faced criticism in 2024 for saying "f--- America" at a pro-Palestinian charity concert.
Representatives for Macklemore and Sheeran did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Fox News Digital. The Israeli-American Council launched a petition calling for Macklemore's removal from Sheeran's remaining tour dates, arguing that an opening act should not use a global concert platform to advance a "one-sided political agenda."