Macklemore, the American rapper, has announced a “Free Palestine” tour after being dropped from Ed Sheeran’s “Loop” tour due to his pro-Palestinian statements.
In a statement shared on Instagram Thursday, Macklemore revealed that all proceeds from the upcoming shows will be donated to organizations supporting Palestinians.
The tour is set to kick off in Dublin on October 26, with subsequent dates in Paris on October 29 and London on October 30. Macklemore explained that his decision to organize the tour was prompted by the fallout from his removal from Sheeran’s tour, stating, “If these last couple of weeks have shown us anything, it’s that something has shifted over the last three years.”
He also shared that he has spent the past week reaching out to fellow artists who have used their platforms to express solidarity with Palestinians: “Artists who understand that our platforms mean very little if we’re only willing to use them when it’s safe.
Macklemore emphasized that the tour is meant to give artists a space to speak out on the issue. “So, we’re going on tour,” he wrote. “Free Palestine Tour.”
The announcement follows the recent removal of rapper Macklemore from Ed Sheeran’s tour after he made pro-Palestinian remarks during a performance at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium earlier this month. During the show, Macklemore voiced support for Palestinians, called out “Free Palestine,” and assured them they were “not forgotten.”
In response to his removal, four supporting acts — American artist Finneas, Irish singer Aaron Rowe, Irish folk band Beoga, and Danish pop group Lukas Graham — withdrew from the ‘Loop’ tour in solidarity. Ed Sheeran has stated that he was not responsible for Macklemore’s removal, explaining that the decision was made by the tour’s promoter, Messina Touring Group. Sheeran noted that some venues had threatened to cancel their shows if Macklemore remained part of the lineup.
Additionally, Macklemore announced he would donate the $1 million earned from his appearances on Sheeran’s tour to organizations supporting Palestinians.
