“I WANT TO SAY TWO WORDS: FREE PALESTINE”
Macklemore, who has long publicly expressed his support for the Palestinians, played his first concert of the Loop tour at MetLife Stadium on September 4.
In his speech here, the rapper said that one of the important reasons why he wanted to participate in the tour was to be able to give a message of support for Palestine in large stadiums.
“I want to say two words that are very close to my heart: Free Palestine,” Macklemore said. he said.
Repeating his words, the rapper stated that he wanted his message to reach Gaza and the West Bank and said, "I want them to know that we have not forgotten them." he said.
Addressing the possibility of backlash, Macklemore argued that he would no longer deserve to be on stage the day he stopped speaking his mind to protect his own comfort or the comfort of the audience.
HE SHOWED IMAGES FROM GAZA
While Macklemore performed the song "Hind's Hall", inspired by pro-Palestinian protests, he also projected images on the stage screens showing the destruction caused by Israel's attacks in Gaza.
The song takes its name from a university building named after 6-year-old Hind Rajab, who died as a result of Israeli army fire in 2024.
Macklemore's statements sparked controversy in the United States.
The organization StopAntisemitism accused the rapper of exposing concertgoers to “anti-Israel propaganda.”
The Israeli-American Council also demanded that Macklemore be removed from the tour and questioned where the line should be drawn when a front-line artist uses a global concert platform to “advance a one-sided political agenda.”
PINK ALSO JOINED THE DISCUSSION
Singer Pink also joined the discussion.
Pink stated that she was not against Macklemore saying "Free Palestine" and that she did not want another artist to be silenced or dismissed. However, she claimed that as a Jewish mother, she should be able to express that some statements frighten her and her relatives.
Macklemore reiterated his support for Palestine at his second concert at MetLife Stadium the next day.
Addressing the Jews in the audience, the rapper emphasized that criticism of the Israeli government is not directed at Jews. Macklemore said his message is “peace, love and the treatment of all people with dignity, respect and equality.”
“ED WAS IN A DIFFICULT SITUATION”
Macklemore confirmed that he was removed from the tour with a long statement published on his Instagram account on Monday.
Stating that he has been friends with Ed Sheeran for 13 years and sees him as his "brother", the rapper explained that they had difficult discussions for about a week before the decision.
According to Macklemore, Sheeran faced pressure from some stadium owners. “Ed was in a very difficult situation, and he knew it,” Macklemore said. he said.
The rapper stated that he has been making similar statements on stages in different parts of the world for about three years, and attributed the reason for the reaction this time to sharing the same stage with one of the world's biggest artists such as Ed Sheeran.
“IF THESE WORDS ARE TO COST THE STAGE...”
Macklemore also said in his statement that he, Ed Sheeran or Pink were not the victims of this controversy.
Pointing out that all three of them have careers, financial means, security and listeners in different parts of the world, the rapper stated that the real victims are the Palestinians in Gaza.
Stating that he will not back down from his rhetoric despite being removed from the tour, Macklemore completed his statement with the call for "Free Palestine" again.
“If these words are going to cost the stage and turn the conversation back to Palestine, this was the most successful tour I've ever been on,” he said.
