Macklemore called for a “free Palestine” and condemned ICE during his first show since being kicked off Ed Sheeran‘s tour last month. Watch the footage below.
The rapper played a 17-song set at the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado on Thursday night (October 22), per Setlist.FM. It came after he was removed from Sheeran’s North American ‘Loop’ shows for expressing his pro-Palestine stance on stage.
At one point in this week’s gig, Macklemore delivered a passionate speech in which he doubled down on his views while speaking out against other tragedies and injustices around the globe.
“Being a human being in this moment is not complicated,” he began. “It is not political. It is human to have a heart, to watch others suffering and to say, ‘Not anymore!’ So I say, free Palestine. I say, free Palestine!”
The artist continued: “I say, free Sudan. I say, free Congo, Lebanon, to Haiti, to all the people that are affected by ICE in America, who are afraid to leave their houses.”
After receiving rapturous applause and cheers from the audience, Macklemore concluded: “The message will always be love.”
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After the controversy stemming from Sheeran’s tour, Macklemore announced a brief ‘Free Palestine Tour’ across the UK and Europe. The benefit shows have since sold out, with the rapper saying he’d been “blown away” by the response.
“We put these shows together fast and in community, believing that musicians can stand in solidarity with Palestine, use the stage to raise funds and show what collective action can look like,” he wrote. “When those in power try to silence our calls for liberation, art will always be a form of resistance.”
The saga began when Macklemore made an impassioned speech while opening for Sheeran at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey last month.
He called for “all human beings to be treated with dignity, respect, and equality” and told people in Gaza and the West Bank that “we have not forgotten about them”. He declared “free Palestine” and performed his 2024 protest track ‘Hind’s Hall’ alongside footage from Gaza.
Following criticism from the likes of Pink and the Israeli-American Council, Macklemore defended his remarks, saying that “wanting all humans to be treated equal should never be controversial”.
Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft objected to Macklemore performing at Sheeran’s later scheduled shows at the venue.
The rapper subsequently confirmed that he had been removed from the rest of the trek, claiming Sheeran had told him that Kraft and other stadium owners had objected to his presence on the line-up. The decision triggered further upheaval, with all of Sheeran’s remaining support acts and his backing band withdrawing in solidarity with Macklemore.
Macklemore then pledged his entire $1million earnings from Sheeran’s tour to six organisations supporting Palestinians, telling Kraft: “Whatever we disagree about, perhaps we can agree on this: Palestinian lives are worth protecting.” Kraft himself confirmed a $2million contribution to humanitarian aid in the region.
When Sheeran eventually returned to the stage, he apologised for “mistakes” in his handling of the situation, and revealed that the fallout had left him questioning whether he wanted “to be an artist at all”. The scandal took an unexpected turn when Sheeran’s scheduled gigs at the Gillette Stadium were cancelled after all – thanks to “severe weather warnings” in the area.
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The controversy has continued to draw responses from across the music world. During a recent interview with NME, Tom Morello praised Macklemore for refusing to retreat from his stance, arguing that “courage is contagious”. Meanwhile, Lorde took aim at Kraft by wearing a “Free Palestine” jacket, with CMAT also sharing her “hot take” on the topic.
Sheeran has faced backlash from SNL UK, too, with guest host Amelia Dimoldenberg branding him a “red-headed puppet”. Other criticism came from the likes of Charlotte Church, Greta Thunberg and Billy Bragg. Elsewhere, Bob Geldof defended the star, but said he “really admire[d] Macklemore” and those who had walked away from the tour.
Sheeran’s former opener Aaron Rowe said the anger over the situation should instead be aimed at “the likes of Robert Kraft”. More recently, Metallica’s James Hetfield seemingly made a subtle dig at Macklemore by criticising “some other entertainers” who use their time on stage “to influence you with their bullshit”.
Earlier this month, Sheeran announced a new set of support acts for his current ‘Loop’ tour, which continues in Arlington, Texas, tonight (Saturday October 24).
