Macklemore announces 'Free Palestine' tour after being removed from Ed Sheeran shows

Rapper Macklemore announced, this Thursday (24), that he will organize his own tour: "Free Palestine Tour", after being removed from Ed Sheeran's shows for his statements in support of the Palestinians.

His exclusion as the opening act on the British pop star's "Loop Tour" after shouting "Free Palestine!" during a show in New Jersey provoked a strong controversy in the United States and abroad.

In reaction, Macklemore announced that he will perform three shows at the end of October in London, Paris and Dublin. He also plans other shows in the US and said all profits will go to pro-Palestinian associations.

"What happened to me is something bigger than a single artist or a single stage," the 43-year-old rapper said in an Instagram post.

"When the billionaire class can decide which voices are allowed on stage and which are too dangerous to be heard, everyone should be paying attention. It's 2026. Being apolitical during a genocide doesn't work anymore," he said.

"People are asking artists to take a stand, to be informed and to be in community. To use the stage for something beyond entertainment. To resist when the call for a free Palestine faces attempts to silence," he added.

Understand what happened

Macklemore was dropped from the tour last week following pressure from American stadium owners over his comments.

The decision raised a series of criticisms of Ed Sheeran, one of the most listened to singers of his generation, who until then had aroused broad consensus.

During a concert in Philadelphia last weekend, the British composer acknowledged "mistakes" and declared that the situation in Gaza was "unjustifiable."

Other artists left Sheeran's tour in solidarity with Macklemore, including Finneas, brother and collaborator of award-winning artist Billie Eilish.