Macklemore Uses Ed Sheeran Concert Stage for Pro-Palestinian Speech

American rapper Macklemore, performing as an opening act for Ed Sheeran at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Friday night, used the stage to voice his political views regarding the war in Gaza and other global issues. Addressing tens of thousands of attendees, Macklemore stated, "I want the people from Gaza to the occupied West Bank to know that we have not forgotten them." He added, "I think every person walking the face of this earth deserves the exact same freedom, to know security and peace before they know the sounds of violence, and to know the sound of laughter in the playground before planes and bombs."

Macklemore explained his decision to speak out despite personal fears, saying that if fear prevented him from speaking his mind for his own comfort or the audience's, he would no longer need to be on stage. He then called for the liberation of Palestine, Cuba, Congo, Sudan, and Iran, and also addressed immigrants in America facing fear due to ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement).

Following his speech, Macklemore performed his song "Hind's Hall," released in May 2024 amidst student protests in the United States. The song is named after a building at Columbia University that protesters renamed in memory of Hind Rajab, a child from Gaza killed during the war. During the performance, images from Gaza and protest demonstrations were displayed on the stadium's large screens. Macklemore announced that proceeds from the song would be donated to UNRWA.

Audience reactions were mixed. While some attendees cheered and applauded, others, including Israelis present, expressed discomfort with his messages. As of now, Ed Sheeran has not publicly commented on Macklemore's statements.