Music
07 Sep 26

Fans back Macklemore as Israeli-American Council calls for Ed Sheeran to drop him from tour

Macklemore at Virgin Media Park, Cork on June 5th, 2025. Copyright Trevor McGrath/ hotpress.com

The rapper has sparked controversy following his call for a free Palestine at the concert.

The Israeli-American Council has called for rapper Macklemore to be dropped from Ed Sheeran's LOOP tour, due to his comments about Palestine during his opening set last Friday at the MetLife stadium in New Jersey.

Macklemore said during his performance that one of the main reasons he joined Ed Sheeran on his tour was so that he could use his platform to call for a free Palestine.

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A post shared by Wear The Peace® (@wearthepeace)

"I want those words to be loud and clear so the people all the way in Gaza to the occupied West Bank know that we have not forgotten about them," he said.

He repeated his speech during his performance on Saturday night.

The Israeli-American Council have created a petition calling for the rappers's removal from the tour. The petition does not show the amount of signatures it has received.

"This was an Ed Sheeran concert - not a political rally, not a protest, and not an activist event," the petition reads.

"This becomes even more troubling when the message relies on selective imagery, biased messaging, and disputed claims presented to a massive audience as fact, without context or complexity."

Concert-goers are divided on social media, with some criticising Macklemore and Ed Sheeran, while others are supportive of Macklemore's actions.

On their Instagram Stories, KNEECAP have reposted an image of Macklemore holding a Palestinian flag onstage, with the Irish group writing: "Solidarity with @macklemore"

Macklemore previously released the song 'Hind's Hall' in 2024, named after the pro-Palestine encampment in Columbia University's Hamilton Hall.

As reported by The Columbia Spectator, the encampment was named after Hind Rajab, a five-year-old Palestinian child killed by Israeli forces in January 2024. The song is a critique on the American government's involvement with Israel and Israel's actions in Gaza.

Proceeds from the song were donated to the UNRWA to support humanitarian efforts in Palestine.