Campaign launched to remove US rapper Macklemore from tour after pro-Palestinian messages

A petition campaign was launched to demand that American rap artist "Macklemore" be removed from the next concerts of the tour in which he took part as a featured artist, after he gave a message of support for Palestine during the concerts he performed.

According to Variety magazine, "Macklemore", who performed twice last week as part of British singer Ed Sheeran's US tour, called for support for Palestine on stage.

In his speech before performing the song "Hind's Hall", which he released in 2024 to support Palestine, Macklemore said, "One of the biggest reasons why I want to go on this tour is to stand up in stadiums like this and chant two words that hold an important place in my heart: Free Palestine." he said.

The 43-year-old singer, who participated in the tour as a front artist, also said, "I say 'Free Palestine'. I want these words to echo loud and clear so that everyone, from Gaza to the occupied West Bank, knows that we have not forgotten them." he said.

REQUEST FOR MACKLEMORE TO BE REMOVED FROM THE PROGRAM

On the other hand, the Israeli-American Council (IAC) launched a petition demanding that Macklemore, who will perform as a featured artist in the rest of the tour, be removed from the program.

Stating that this was an "Ed Sheeran concert, not a political rally, protest or action," the campaign said, "The issue is not whether Macklemore has the right to have political views. The real question is where the line should be drawn when a front artist uses a global concert platform to pursue a one-sided political agenda." statements were included.

HE REPEATED HIS SUPPORT TO PALESTINE MANY TIMES

Macklemore, who started his music career in the 2000s, shared a message criticizing Israel's attacks on Gaza for the first time on November 7, 2023.

Grammy-winning artist Macklemore, especially known for his song "Thrift Shop", reiterated his support for Palestine at the concert he gave in Germany on June 2, 2024.

The American rap artist released his new song "Hind's Hall 2", in which he worked with many Palestinian artists in support of Gaza, on September 20, 2024, and announced that he would donate all the revenues from the song to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).