Macklemore announces Free Palestine Tour in response to Ed Sheeran controversy
Macklemore has announced that he will be doing a Free Palestine Tour after being dropped from Ed Sheeran's tour over pro-Palestine remarks at a show.
During a performance at the MetLife stadium in New Jersey Macklemore gave a speech to the crowd where he advocated for the Palestinian people, leading to calls from some for him to be dropped from the tour.
It was subsequently confirmed that Macklemore would not be performing on the US leg of Sheeran's Loop tour, with venues on the tour reportedly saying that they did not want Macklemore to perform there.
The decision sparked widespread outrage, including all of Sheeran's support acts dropping out of the tour in solidarity with Macklemore.
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The musician took to his Instagram page with the announcement of a new tour of his own, which read: "If these last couple of weeks have shown us anything, it’s that something has shifted over the last three years. There has been a collective awakening around Palestinian liberation, the power of billionaires that try to censor that call, and what we expect from artists right now.
"It’s 2026. Being apolitical during a genocide doesn’t work anymore. People are asking artists to show up, educate themselves and be in community. To use the stage for more than entertainment. To push back when the call for a Free Palestine is met with attempts to silence it.
"What happened to me is bigger than one artist or one stage. When the billionaire class can decide which voices are allowed on stage and which ones are too dangerous to hear, everyone should be paying attention."
He added: "So, as you all know, my schedule freed up a bit.
"I’ve spent the last week reaching out to artists who have shown up and used their stages to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people, regardless of the consequences. Artists who understand that our platforms mean very little if we’re only willing to use them when it’s safe.
"Because of how quickly all of this has come together, a lot of the conversations, schedules and details are still being worked out. But this is a moment of momentum, and there is work to be done.
"So we’re going on tour.
"FREE PALESTINE TOUR."
The announcement went on to say that the tour will have dates in Dublin, Paris, and London, and that US dates will also be confirmed soon.
It added that other acts on the tour will also be announced, and added that 'all proceeds will benefit organizations supporting the Palestinian people and movement'.
Sheeran issued an apology onstage in the first live show after Macklemore was dropped from his tour, telling the audience: "I’ve had to take and make difficult decisions, and I am making mistakes and I’m so, so sorry for them.
“I don’t want to disappoint fans, and I’ve never wanted to be an activist musician, but this has put me in the middle of an important and passionate argument about freedom of speech and the most complex political issue on the planet.”
But the apology has also been received with anger, including from some fans concerned about his apparent use of a teleprompter for the message.
Kit Roberts