Grammy-winning American rapper Macklemore reiterated his support for Palestine and condemned US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during a concert at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado on Thursday, October 22. It was his first performance since he was removed from Ed Sheeran’s North American Loop tour.
During the 17-song set, Macklemore addressed the audience about the suffering of people affected by conflicts and injustices around the world.
“Being a human being in this moment is not complicated,” he said. “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!”
He also called for freedom for Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lebanon and Haiti, and expressed solidarity with people in the United States who fear leaving their homes because of ICE.
“The message will always be love,” he said, drawing cheers and applause from the audience.
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Why Macklemore was removed from Ed Sheeran’s tour
Macklemore’s return to the stage followed the controversy over his removal from Sheeran’s North American tour after he made pro-Palestinian statements during performances in September.
At MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, the rapper called for a free Palestine and performed his 2024 protest song Hind’s Hall, accompanied by footage from Gaza.
His remarks prompted criticism from several groups and public figures. The Israeli-American Council launched a petition calling for him to be removed from the tour, while Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft also objected to his scheduled appearances at the venue.
Macklemore subsequently announced that he had been dropped from the remaining dates. He said the decision followed discussions with Sheeran, who had told him that Kraft and other stadium owners objected to his inclusion in the line-up.
Sheeran has not publicly provided a detailed account of the decision.
Macklemore pledges USD 1 million to Palestinian causes
Following the fallout, Macklemore pledged his entire USD 1 million earnings from the tour to six organisations supporting Palestinians.
He also announced the Free Palestine Tour, a series of benefit concerts across the UK and Europe. The shows sold out, with the rapper saying he had been “blown away” by the response.
The concerts were organised with community support to raise funds for Palestinians and demonstrate solidarity with them. Macklemore has also spoken about using music to support calls for liberation, particularly when artists face professional consequences for their public statements.
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Source: The Siasat Daily
