Music3 min(s) read
Following Macklemore's removal from Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour, the rapper is set to embark on a tour of his own.
The rapper, born Benjamin Haggerty, was originally scheduled to open for Sheeran at eight of the ten remaining U.S. concert dates. However, the concert promoter, Messina Touring Group, removed him from the tour due to his onstage Free Palestine statements at the New Jersey tour stops.
In the wake of the controversy, the 'Thrift Store' hitmaker has announced a Free Palestine tour on social media, where he appeared to make a subtle dig at Sheeran.
“As you all know, my schedule freed up a bit,” Macklemore quipped, appearing to poke fun at his being dropped from Sheeran's tour.
He went on to explain that proceeds will go to charities in aid of Palestine.
He will be joined by artists “who understand that our platforms mean very little if we’re only willing to use them when it’s safe.”
The acts and tour stops will be announced in due course, he explained in his message.
“If these last couple of weeks have shown us anything, it’s that something has shifted over the last three years,” Macklemore added. “It’s 2026. Being apolitical during a genocide doesn’t work anymore. People are asking artists to show up, educate themselves and be in community."
"To use the stage for more than entertainment. To push back when the call for a Free Palestine is met with attempts to silence it. What happened to me is bigger than one artist or one stage. When the billionaire class can decide which voices are allowed on stage and which ones are too dangerous to hear, everyone should be paying attention.”
The controversy escalated following Macklemore's performances during Sheeran's concerts at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on September 4 and September 5.
During those appearances, the artist performed his 2024 protest track 'Hind's Hall,' which criticizes Israel's military actions in Gaza, while also displaying background visuals and delivering political remarks directly to the crowd.
During his performance on Friday in New Jersey, Macklemore addressed the stadium directly regarding his motivation for joining the tour.
He told the audience: “A big part of the reason why I wanted to do this tour in the first place is so I could stand up in stadiums like this and say two words that are very near and dear to my heart: 'Free Palestine'.”
He added: “I said, ‘Free Palestine!’ I want those words to be loud and clear, so that people all the way in Gaza to the occupied West Bank know that we have not forgotten about them.”
Tickets for Macklemore's Free Palestine tour are set to go on sale September 30.
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