US Israeli Community Demands Rapper's Removal Over Antisemitic Performance

The Israeli-American Council (IAC) has launched a petition calling for the removal of rapper Macklemore from the remainder of Ed Sheeran's tour. The demand follows Macklemore's opening performance at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where he addressed over 80,000 attendees. During his set, he delivered an anti-Israel speech, called for a "free Palestine," and performed a song described as antisemitic, accompanied by visuals of Gaza and propaganda messages.

The petition, addressed to Sheeran, the tour management, and stadium officials, states that the performance served as a platform for a one-sided political agenda, presenting controversial claims as fact without context or nuance. The IAC emphasized that a concert is not a political rally and that freedom of expression does not equate to freedom from responsibility, asserting that Sheeran's stage implies his responsibility.

Concurrently, the IAC is urging the public to contact production company Live Nation directly to demand action. The song in question was reportedly written in support of campus protest movements and takes its name from a moniker given by antisemitic, Hamas-supporting protesters to Hamilton Hall at Columbia University after they stormed and occupied it in 2024.

The IAC, representing over 150,000 Israeli-Americans across 100 communities in the U.S., has significantly increased its activities since October 7th, focusing on combating antisemitism and promoting advocacy for hostages and public awareness.