Macklemore has been removed from Ed Sheeran’s US tour following his pro Palestinian remarks during a live performance.
The rapper, whose real name is Benjamin Haggerty, had been supporting Sheeran on the Loop tour. Jewish organisations criticised him after he delivered speeches supporting Palestine before beginning his set.
Addressing the crowd, he said, “A big part of the reason why I wanted to do this tour in the first place is so that I could stand up in stadiums like this and say two words that are very, very dear to my heart: Free Palestine.”
He later performed Hind's Hall, a track condemning Israel’s military operations in Gaza, while images showing the destruction across Gaza appeared on the venue’s large screen.
Macklemore returned to the venue the following evening and spoke directly to his “Jewish brothers and sisters” in attendance.
“Criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide, is in no way a criticism of you,” he said, before adding that he wanted those living in Gaza and the West Bank to understand that they had not been forgotten.
On Monday, Macklemore defended his statements and confirmed that he was no longer part of the tour, writing that the true victims were the Palestinian people living in Gaza.
In a long Instagram message, the musician revealed that Sheeran had removed him from the lineup after a week of “difficult conversations.”
Messina Touring Group, the tour’s promoter, told Rolling Stone magazine that several venues had suggested they would refuse to let Macklemore perform, “which would result in the cancellation of the tour and impact hundreds of thousands of fans.”
Macklemore said he understood the challenging situation facing Sheeran but still criticised the English musician for choosing not to publicly take a position.
“Taking a side can cost you. Money, brand deals, sponsorships, festivals, private shows, relationships and access. I've lost all of those things. But there is no neutral position between the oppressor and the oppressed,” he wrote.
Sheeran has yet to respond publicly, while Macklemore’s replacement has not been confirmed.
