American rapper Macklemore is under fire for speaking out with a plea to “Free Palestine” at Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium on September 4 and 5. Prior to his performance of the protest song “Hind’s Hall,” Macklemore addressed his concern over the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
“A big part of the reason why I wanted to do this tour in the first place is so I could stand up in stadiums like this and say two words that are very near and dear to my heart: Free Palestine,” Macklemore said. “I want those words to be loud and clear, so that people all the way in Gaza to the occupied West Bank know that we have not forgotten about them.”
Wanting all humans to be treated equal should never be controversial. pic.twitter.com/BOJ9xMoIZn
— Macklemore (@macklemore) September 7, 2026
The speech drew the ire of the Israeli American Council (IAC), and they have issued a petition for the rapper to be booted off Sheeran’s remaining tour dates. The petition read that the concert is exclusively as is and not a political rally or a protest. The IAC petitioned that the issue is “not whether Macklemore has the right to hold political views.” The council then concluded that Macklemore’s messaging relies on “selective imagery, biased messaging, and disputed claims presented to a massive audience as fact, without context or complexity.”
Moreover, pop singer P!nk has amplified a pro-Israel group Stop Antisemitism’s post demanding that the rapper apologize for his “Free Palestine” message and denying that Israel is committing genocide on Instagram.
Breaking Silence
According to Newsweek, Macklemore followed up with his response a day after the speech on September 5 at the same venue. He responded to the reaction to his speech on stage.
“To all of my Jewish brothers and sisters: criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide is in no way a criticism of you,” he says. “My message is for peace; love for all human beings to be treated with dignity, respect, and equality.”
Sheeran shared no response regarding the speech, and Macklemore is still included in the tour dates based on Sheeran’s website. Macklemore wrote “Hind’s Hall” addressing the conflict and expressing support for Palestinians. Moreover, the song was inspired by “a group of college activists” from Columbia University back in 2024 that led a nationwide protest across other campuses all over the United States.
Frequently Answered Questions
Macklemore is an American rapper who wrote the hits “Thrift Shop,” “Can’t Hold Us,” “These Days,” to name a few.
Macklemore is performing as part of singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour.
Macklemore’s “Hind’s Hall” was inspired by a group of college activists from Columbia University in 2024.
The Israeli-American Council (IAC) is an American nonprofit whose mission is to build an engaged and united Israeli-American community that strengthens the Israeli and Jewish identity.
P!nk is a pop singer known for releasing hits such as “Just Give Me A Reason,” “Try,” and “What About Us.”
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