Macklemore Politicizes Ed Sheeran Concert with 'Free Palestine' Rhetoric, Faces Petition from Israeli American Council
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Rapper Macklemore used his opening slot for Ed Sheeran at MetLife Stadium to inject divisive 'Free Palestine' messaging and other political causes, prompting the Israeli American Council to petition for his removal from the tour.
Macklemore, serving as the opening act for Ed Sheeran at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Friday, chose to use his stage time to push a political agenda, including a controversial call for 'Free Palestine' and support for regions like Cuba, the Congo, Sudan, and Iran. He told the audience that people in Gaza and the occupied West Bank should know they have not been forgotten, stating, 'I believe that every human being walking on this earth deserves exactly the same freedom.' Macklemore repeated these remarks at the next night’s show in New Jersey, further politicizing the event.
The Israeli American Council, representing the interests of the pro-Israel community, responded by launching a petition urging concert organizers to remove Macklemore from the remaining dates of the Loop tour. The petition emphasized that the event was intended as an Ed Sheeran concert, not a platform for political grandstanding, and questioned the appropriateness of an opening act using a global stage to promote divisive messaging.
During his remarks, Macklemore also took aim at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Earlier in 2024, he released the song 'Hind’s Hall,' which criticizes Israel’s actions in Gaza, and pledged that proceeds would go to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, an organization with a controversial record regarding its activities in the region.