Macklemore kicks off "Free Palestine Tour" in Dublin after leaving Ed Sheeran's shows

Rapper Macklemore launched the first concert of his "Free Palestine Tour" on Monday at Dublin's 3Arena, a show that promoters said sold out. The performance follows his removal from British pop star Ed Sheeran's U.S. tour after Macklemore expressed support for Palestine on stage.

Fans waiting in line praised Macklemore's stance. "Macklemore's support for Palestine is huge. He's stood up and he's put himself on the line instead of taking the easy way out," said Michael Keating, 31, who works in insurance. Another attendee, Grainne Healy, 60, added, "The USA is supposed to be the country of free speech and instead people are being shut down. (Sheeran) should have stood up for what Macklemore was doing."

Sheeran said the decision to drop Macklemore was made by tour promoters, not by him. Four other supporting artists, including American singer Finneas, withdrew from the tour in solidarity with Macklemore. Sheeran later addressed the Gaza situation at a concert in Philadelphia, describing it as "unjustifiable and disproportionate."

Macklemore announced the tour last month, with planned dates in London, Paris and the United States, stating that all proceeds would go to pro-Palestinian organizations. Outside the arena, vendors sold half-Irish, half-Palestinian flags, bucket hats and keffiyeh scarves. "Ever since (Macklemore) started talking about Palestine, it makes us like him even more," said 18-year-old student Freya Dorrity. Maria Liddy, 40, said she attended to show solidarity with the people of Palestine and added that artists should not be censored.