Rapper Macklemore has reiterated his support for Palestine and criticised US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during his first concert since being dropped from Ed Sheeran’s North American Loop tour following controversy over his pro-Palestinian statements.
Performing at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado on Thursday, October 22, Macklemore delivered a 17-song set and addressed the audience with a message calling for freedom, compassion and solidarity with people facing conflict and injustice.
“Being a human being in this moment is not complicated,” Macklemore 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 expressed solidarity with people in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lebanon and Haiti, as well as individuals in the United States who fear leaving their homes because of ICE operations.
“The message will always be love,” he told the audience.
Controversy Over Ed Sheeran Tour
The performance marked Macklemore’s return to the stage following the controversy surrounding his removal from Sheeran’s tour the previous month.
The dispute emerged after Macklemore called for a free Palestine during performances at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey in September. He also performed his 2024 protest song Hind’s Hall, accompanied by footage from Gaza.
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His remarks drew criticism from several groups and public figures. The Israeli-American Council subsequently launched a petition calling for his removal from the tour, while Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft also objected to his scheduled appearances at the venue.
Macklemore later announced that he had been dropped from the remaining tour dates. He said the decision followed discussions with Sheeran, who had informed him that Kraft and other stadium owners objected to his presence on the line-up.
Sheeran has not publicly provided a detailed account of the decision.
Macklemore Pledges Tour Earnings to Palestinian Causes
Following the controversy, Macklemore pledged his entire $1 million in earnings from the tour to six organisations supporting Palestinians.
He also announced a series of benefit concerts across the United Kingdom and Europe under the name Free Palestine Tour. The shows subsequently sold out.
Macklemore said the concerts had been organised quickly with support from communities and were intended to raise funds and demonstrate solidarity with Palestinians.
He has also argued that music can be used to support calls for liberation, particularly when artists face professional pressure over their public statements.
Musicians React to the Controversy
The dispute has prompted reactions from musicians and other public figures. Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello praised Macklemore for maintaining his position, while other artists have commented on the circumstances surrounding his removal from Sheeran’s tour.
Macklemore’s latest performance brought his advocacy for Palestine and other humanitarian causes back into focus, following the professional fallout from his earlier remarks.
His speech at Red Rocks also extended beyond Palestine, highlighting concerns about conflict, displacement and immigration enforcement in different parts of the world.
