Macklemore Free Palestine Tour Follows Ed Sheeran Fallout
Rapper Macklemore has announced a new Free Palestine tour after being removed from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour following his pro-Palestinian comments onstage earlier this month. The new tour will begin in Europe next month, with proceeds going to organisations supporting Palestinians, according to Macklemore and Reuters.
The American rapper, whose real name is Benjamin Haggerty, announced the concerts on Thursday, saying his schedule had opened up after his departure from Sheeran’s tour.
The Free Palestine tour is scheduled to begin in Dublin before moving to Paris and London. Macklemore said additional performers and US dates would be announced later. He also said proceeds from the shows would be donated to organisations supporting the Palestinian people.
The announcement follows the Macklemore Ed Sheeran controversy, which began after Macklemore made pro-Palestinian remarks during a September concert in New Jersey. He also performed “Hind’s Hall”, a song addressing Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
Macklemore was subsequently removed from the remaining US support dates of Sheeran’s tour. Sheeran said the decision was made by the promoter after discussions with stakeholders, rather than by him personally.
The Macklemore Ed Sheeran controversy expanded beyond the two artists after other performers associated with Sheeran’s tour withdrew following Macklemore’s removal. The dispute also brought questions about the role of stadium owners and promoters in deciding which artists appear at major concert venues.
Macklemore has continued to use his concerts and public statements to discuss Palestinian rights. In announcing the new Free Palestine tour, he said recent events had prompted wider discussion about artists using their platforms to address political and humanitarian issues.
Sheeran later addressed the controversy during a Philadelphia concert, describing the situation in Gaza as catastrophic and unjustifiable while also saying the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel was horrific.
The first Free Palestine tour dates are expected to take place in Dublin, Paris and London next month, with Macklemore yet to announce the additional performers and US schedule.
The Macklemore Ed Sheeran controversy is therefore moving from the cancelled tour dates to a separate concert series centred on Macklemore’s stated support for Palestinians. The planned donations from the new tour will also put attention on the organisations selected to receive the proceeds.
