Macklemore defended his remarks after his performance at Ed Sheeran’s New Jersey concert sparked criticism and calls for his removal from the tour.
The rapper said his message supported Palestinian freedom and did not target Jewish people. He addressed the backlash on Monday after his appearance at MetLife Stadium drew controversy.
Macklemore says his comments at Ed Sheeran’s New Jersey concert were about Palestinian freedom
Macklemore used his opening set to call for freedom for Palestinians and others around the world. He then performed his protest song “Hind’s Hall.”
The stadium screens also displayed images related to Gaza during the performance.
His stadium remarks quickly drew backlash. An Israeli-American organization launched a petition that asked Sheeran to remove Macklemore from the remaining U.S. tour dates.
Macklemore responded to the criticism and said his comments focused on Palestine and civilian suffering. He rejected the suggestion that supporting Palestinian freedom amounted to an attack on Jewish people.
The rapper had addressed the Israel-Palestine conflict before the MetLife Stadium appearance. In 2024, he released “Hind’s Hall” during a period of pro-Palestinian demonstrations on college campuses.
The latest controversy also drew attention from Pink. She reposted a message from StopAntisemitism that criticized Macklemore’s appearance on Sheeran’s tour.
Sheeran had not publicly responded to the criticism at the time of the source report. He also had not addressed the petition calling for Macklemore’s removal.
Despite the reaction, Macklemore remained part of Sheeran’s tour schedule.
The rapper continued to stand behind his message as debate grew around the concert appearance. His response focused on separating his support for Palestinian freedom from accusations that his remarks attacked Jewish people.
The controversy placed renewed attention on Macklemore’s political activism and his use of live performances to discuss the conflict.
For now, the rapper remained on the tour while criticism of his MetLife Stadium performance continued.
