Macklemore is set to kick off his own tour following his removal as the opening act for the U.S. leg of Ed Sheeran’s tour. The decision to drop Macklemore came after venue owners in the U.S. threatened to cancel Sheeran’s shows if the rapper continued as the opening act, according to a statement from the Messina Touring Group to Rolling Stone magazine.
Known for his pro-Palestinian stance, Macklemore has been vocal about his support for Palestinians for years. In a recent Instagram post, he highlighted the broader implications of his removal, emphasizing the importance of paying attention when certain voices are silenced by the billionaire class.
The rapper announced a series of performances in Dublin, Paris, and London in October, labeling it the Free Palestine Tour with the promise of more U.S. dates to be revealed. The shows are aimed at supporting various Palestinian aid organizations, including the Gaza Soup Kitchen, Palestinian Youth Movement, Jewish Voice for Peace, and UNRWA USA.
The controversy surrounding Macklemore’s performances began during the Loop Tour with Sheeran when videos showed the rapper chanting “Free Palestine” and expressing solidarity with Palestinians, drawing criticism from Israeli advocacy groups. Subsequently, calls were made for his removal from the tour, leading to his official dismissal.
In response to the situation, Macklemore vowed to donate all his earnings from the tour to humanitarian organizations aiding Gaza and challenged billionaire Robert Kraft to do the same. Kraft later pledged $2 million to aid in the region in response to Sheeran’s request before Macklemore’s challenge.
As the tour moves forward without Macklemore, Sheeran publicly apologized to fans at the start of his shows, stating his desire not to be viewed as an activist musician.