Macklemore Says Support for Palestine Is Not Anti-Jewish During Ed Sheeran Concert

During his opening set for Ed Sheeran at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium, rapper Macklemore told the audience that his advocacy for a free Palestine, Lebanon, Cuba, Congo, Sudan and others was aimed at promoting universal human rights, not at criticizing Jewish individuals. He said, "To all of my Jewish brothers and sisters: criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide in no way is a criticism of you. My message is for peace; love for all human beings to be treated with dignity, respect, and equality." Macklemore added that freedom for all peoples, including those living in fear of terrorism and immigration enforcement, is essential for collective liberty. The remarks sparked a response from the Israeli American Council, which filed a petition demanding that the four-time Grammy winner be removed from the remainder of Sheeran’s tour. The petition argued that the concert was not a political rally and questioned the appropriateness of using a large-scale music platform to advance a one-sided political agenda.