Macklemore launches benefit tour after being removed from Ed Sheeran's shows

Rapper Macklemore said his schedule opened up after being dropped from Ed Sheeran's tour and announced a "Free Palestine Tour" with three dates: Dublin on Oct. 26, Paris on Oct. 29 and London on Oct. 30. All ticket revenue will be donated to organizations that support Palestinians.

"If these last couple of weeks have shown us anything, it’s that something has shifted over the last three years," Macklemore said, adding that a "collective awakening" around Palestinian liberation has emerged and that wealthy individuals have attempted to silence such voices.

He noted that his removal was part of a broader issue, saying that when “the billionaire class can decide which voices are allowed on stage,” it raises concerns for the public.

Macklemore previously reported that he was dismissed from Sheeran's Loop tour after making pro-Palestine comments at an earlier concert, and that Robert Kraft, owner of Gillette Stadium, allegedly contacted Sheeran about the decision. Sheeran responded that the removal was a promoter decision and that he would not enter a public debate about the Gaza conflict.

The rapper said he immediately began planning the new shows and is reaching out to other artists supportive of Palestinian causes. Ticket presales start Sept. 28, with general sales on Sept. 30.

Macklemore will also perform a solo concert at Red Rocks on Oct. 22, a show that has sold out since the controversy. Ticket resale prices for that event have risen, while tickets for Sheeran's Philadelphia concert remain at $68.

Sheeran addressed the criticism at his Lincoln Financial Field concert, apologizing for any disappointment and expressing that the events of Oct. 7 were horrific, describing the situation in Gaza as "catastrophic and unjustifiable."

Macklemore announced a $1 million donation from his earnings to six groups aiding Palestinians and invited Kraft to match the contribution. Kraft said Sheeran had asked him to match a separate $2 million donation, though it is unclear whether the match was completed.