Ed Sheeran breaks silence after Macklemore tour ousting
Mike ‘Gunz’ Gunzelman discusses the backlash surrounding Ed Sheeran’s tour after opening acts quit in support of Macklemore.
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Macklemore is taking his views on “Free Palestine” on the road.
The rapper, who was dropped from Ed Sheeran’s tour earlier this month after stirring controversy with his politically charged performances, announced Thursday that he’s going on a new tour he’s calling the “Free Palestine Tour.”
“If these last couple of weeks have shown us anything, it’s that something has shifted over the last three years. There has been a collective awakening around Palestinian liberation, the power of billionaires that try to censor that call, and what we expect from artists right now,” he wrote on Instagram.
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Macklemore has announced that he’s launching the “Free Palestine Tour” in October
He continued, “It’s 2026. Being apolitical during a genocide doesn’t work anymore. People are asking artists to show up, educate themselves and be in community. To use the stage for more than <a href="https://comicvibe.com/sphere-entertainment-sphr-what-is-behind-the-fresh-attention/” title=”Sphere Entertainment (SPHR), What Is Behind The Fresh Attention?”>entertainment. To push back when the call for a Free Palestine is met with attempts to silence it.”
Macklemore wrote that “what happened to me is bigger than one artist or one stage,” and that “when the billionaire class can decide which voices are allowed on stage and which ones are too dangerous to hear, everyone should be paying attention.”
He added, “So, as you all know, my schedule freed up a bit.”
He wrote that for the past week, he’s been in touch with artists who have also been vocal about their support for Palestinians, “regardless of the consequences” — artists who he says “understand that our platforms mean very little if we’re only willing to use them when it’s safe.”
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Macklemore has three shows scheduled for the tour, with no supporting acts named.(Arnaud Finistre/AFP
The “Thrift Shop” rapper also noted that because things are moving so quickly, schedules and details are still being worked out. As of now, he has three shows scheduled: in Dublin on Oct. 26, in Paris on Oct. 29 and in London on Oct. 30.
None of the other performers have been named, but he did state, “All proceeds will benefit organizations supporting the Palestinian people and movement.”
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The announcement has already made waves, with some critics wondering why he’s not performing in the Palestinian territories. One person wrote on social media, “So f—in performative, let’s see these ‘brave’ artists actually go to the countries they’re so supportive of.”
“If virtual signaling was in the olympics hed get a gold medal,” another said.
The rapper is receiving mixed reactions to his tour announcement.(Kieran Frost/Redferns)
Others took issue with Macklemore making his music so political, with one X user writing, “I’m pretty sure people just want artists to stfu & do the art…..”
Another agreed, saying, “When will celebs learn to stay out of politics? Most of them are vacuous morons who don’t know what they’re talking about. Sing your little songs and f— off home. It’s not difficult.”
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“So why he didn’t do it before?” another person asked. “Was it so necessary to involve Ed Sheeran and damage his career? Something fake and sleezy about this guy.”
Macklemore was kicked off Ed Sheeran’s stadium tour over his “Free Palestine” remarks
Many people praised Macklemore for his decision to do a tour based on his beliefs.
“Macklemore is nothing but a hero and a role model for all of humanity. so damn proud of him,” one fan shared.
“Seriously, mad respect to you for standing up for what you believe. I truly believe we are on the precipice of change and you may have been the bright spark that we needed to set this off,” another posted.
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Several fans requested that he add more shows, especially in the U.S. cities where he was scheduled to perform before he was dropped from Sheeran’s tour.
On Sept. 4, Macklemore opened for Sheeran at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and he used part of his time onstage to perform his anti-Israel song, “Hind’s Hall.” He repeatedly chanted “Free Palestine” while a slideshow played on the screen behind him, showing video from the war in Gaza.
The controversy surrounding Macklemore’s stage appearance continued after the MetLife Stadium performance. He later posted a video on Instagram addressing the crowd and said performing on Sheeran’s tour gave him the opportunity to deliver his “Free Palestine” message to a massive audience.
He doubled down in the caption writing, “Wanting all humans to be treated equal should never be controversial.”
He was later dropped from the tour altogether after venues told the tour’s promoters that they would “not allow a concert to take place with Macklemore on the lineup.”
Fox News Digital’s Stephanie Giang-Paunon contributed to this report.
