Massive Attack: "No artist should tolerate the censorship of another artist, however many millions of dollars are in play"

Several artists have responded following Ed Sheeran's statement after the removal of Macklemore from his tour due to 'free Palestine' remarks.

Massive Attack took to social media to express their solidarity with the rapper, writing:

"Entertainment can never be bigger than resisting the apartheid and genocide of fellow human beings. 'Neutrality' in the face of the slaughter of more than 20,000 children can never be neutrality. No artist should tolerate the censorship of another artist, however many millions of dollars are in play.

"The arc of state, corporate and media silence that allowed a genocide to take place seeks to coerce high profile artists and actors into that silence," they continued.

"We stand in solidarity with all artists risking their careers in defense of the rights of the Palestinian people, and against the illegal occupation, apartheid, war crimes and ongoing genocide perpetrated by the State of Israel."

They concluded the statement by calling for a free Palestine.

 

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Mary Lambert, who featured on Macklemore's 'Same Love', also took to social media with a statement.

"Hearing about the tour cancellation is baffling to me," she wrote. "Macklemore has been loud and outspoken about this for years now. It should be embarrassing to everyone involved in this decision (props to everyone else dropping out in solidarity!). What Ben said on stage at that show is not radical.

"All people deserve to be free. Children deserve to be safe. Everywhere ... It's important to say it clearly and often. Free Palestine and fuck ICE."

 

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BIIRD, who previously supported Sheeran on the LOOP tour, also shared their thoughts.

"We stand unequivocally behind every word he said," they wrote. "Our support is with the people of Palestine, with the artists who have made the difficult decision to step away from the tour and with anybody that speaks up against Zionist lobbying groups. Ní saoirse go saoirse an Phalaistín."

 

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All of the remaining support acts on Sheeran's tour have quit. Among them was Finneas, who said in a statement: "Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed."

Aaron Rowe and Lukas Graham also announced their departure, alongside Irish folk band Beoga, Sheeran's backing band.

Macklemore first joined Sheeran for two shows at MetLife stadium in New Jersey on September 4 and 5. There, he called for a free Palestine, playing his protest track, 'Hind's Hall', while showing images of Gaza onscreen.

Following the shows, the Israeli-American Council created a petition calling for his removal and he received backlash from other artists, including P!NK, for his statements.

Subsequently, Macklemore issued a statement reaffirming his message and sharing that he had been dropped from the tour. Sheeran then followed up with his own statement, asserting that the decision made was by the tour promoter, not him. He avoided taking a political stance.