American rapper Macklemore has stated that his repeated calls for “Free Palestine” during recent concerts with Ed Sheeran were not directed as an attack against Jewish individuals. The 43-year-old artist faced mounting pressure to be removed from the tour after making the comments at two shows in New Jersey over the weekend.
In a video shared on social media on Monday, Macklemore addressed his audience directly. “To all of my Jewish brothers and sisters: Criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide, is in no way a criticism of you,” he said on stage. He emphasized that his intent was to advocate for equality and human dignity.
Macklemore initially made the remarks while performing his 2024 protest track “Hind’s Hall,” which condemns Israel’s military operations in Gaza. The performance included projections of imagery from Gaza and other political messages on stadium screens.
Following the shows, the Israeli-American Council launched a petition urging Sheeran to dismiss Macklemore as the support act for the remainder of the tour. The organization argued that a concert is not a political rally or activist event, noting that the rapper presented “biased messaging and disputed claims” to a massive audience without sufficient context.
Some ticket holders also took to social media to voice their disapproval, though Macklemore has also garnered significant support and shares for his statements.
Israel maintains that its military actions in Gaza and the occupied West Bank are acts of self-defense conducted in accordance with international law, rejecting allegations of genocide. The conflict began after the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages. According to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza, which the UN regards as reliable, over 73,000 people have been killed in Israeli strikes since then, including more than 1,300 following the ceasefire declared on October 10, 2025.
The International Court of Justice is currently reviewing a case brought by South Africa accusing Israeli forces of genocide, though a verdict could take years. Israel has dismissed the case as “wholly unfounded” and based on false claims.
Macklemore clarified in his video that he joined the tour specifically to stand on stages across America and voice his support for Palestinians. “Wanting all humans to be treated equally should never be controversial,” he wrote in the accompanying caption. He added that he wanted people from Gaza to the occupied West Bank to know they had not been forgotten.
BBC News has contacted representatives for Ed Sheeran for a comment regarding the calls for Macklemore’s removal. The rapper is scheduled to continue performing as the support act for upcoming US dates in the coming weeks. This is not the first time Macklemore has addressed controversy regarding his stage presence; in 2014, he apologized for a costume critics labeled as antisemitic.
His previous apology in 2014 makes this hard to swallow. Actions speak louder than words, honestly. Let’s see if he actually follows through.
Is it really the support act’s job to stay silent? If he signed up for the tour, shouldn’t he just play the hits and avoid politics entirely?
Wait, the ceasefire was in 2025? This article feels like it’s from the future or just completely messed up on the timeline. Need to fact-check this.
Love that he is using his platform to speak for human rights. The distinction between criticizing Israel and hating Jewish people is crucial and clear.