Macklemore responds to controversy after declaring ‘Free Palestine’ on Ed Sheeran tour

Macklemore has responded to the backlash he faced over his call to ‘Free Palestine’ when he opened for Ed Sheeran on Friday night.

The US rapper, real name Benjamin Hammond Haggerty, was performing at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium on 4 September as part of Sheeran’s Loop Tour.

But the 43-year-old sparked controversy after he spoke out on Gaza and Palestine.

“I've been trying to figure out a way to say this all day. One of the reasons why I wanted to come on this tour was because I wanted to stand up here on stages and stadiums across America and say two words that are very near and dear to my heart: Free Palestine,” he said in a clip from the performance.

"I said, ‘Free Palestine’.

"I want those words to be loud and clear, so the people from Gaza, all the way to the occupied West Bank, know that we have not forgotten them.

"And this next song was inspired by the bravery of Columbia University students who led an encampment movement that mobilized the entire world; open up hearts, myself included, so thank you to those students that risked their diplomas, that risked their tuition, that risked their scholarships, that stood up and said, no. CUAD students, Students for Justice in Palestine, and Jewish Voices for Peace. Thank you, guys.”

He continued: “To all of my Jewish brothers and sisters: criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide in no way is a criticism of you. My message is for peace; love for all human beings to be treated with dignity, respect, and equality.

“So I say Free Palestine, I say Free Lebanon, I say Free Cuba, I say Free Congo, Free Sudan, I say Free all people in America living in fear of this terrorist organization, ICE. None of us will be free until we are all free."

Following his comments, the Israeli‑American Council (IAC) launched a petition calling on Sheeran to remove Macklemore from his tour.

“This was an Ed Sheeran concert - not a political rally, not a protest, and not an activist event,” the petition says.

The issue is not whether Macklemore has the right to hold political views. The question is where the line should be drawn when an opening act uses a global concert platform to advance a one-sided political agenda.”

It is also asking Sheeran’s team whether the messaging and visuals used in Macklemore’s performance were approved.

Singer P!nk also appeared to make her feelings clear, after she reposted an Instagram Story from StopAntisemitism this weekend, which hit out at Macklemore's performance and called the situation ‘awful’.

Former Friends star Michael Rapaport called Macklemore a ‘clown’ and said the singer had ‘no talent’ and also called on Sheeran to clarify if this was ‘OK’.

Now Macklemore has weighed in on the controversy, sharing a clip of him giving his speech on stage alongside the caption: “Wanting all humans to be treated equal should never be controversial.”

As yet, Sheeran has not commented on the backlash and Macklemore remains part of the tour.

The Loop Tour will resume on 19 September in Philadelphia.