Macklemore Defends 'Free Palestine' Remarks Amid Backlash

American rapper Macklemore has stated that his "Free Palestine" calls and criticism of Israel are not directed against Jewish people. This comes after his participation in Ed Sheeran's concerts in New Jersey sparked protests and demands for his removal from the tour. Macklemore performed as an opening act for Sheeran at MetLife Stadium on September 4th and 5th. During the first show, he declared that a reason for his involvement in the tour was to reach American stadiums and say "Free Palestine." He then performed his song "Hind's Hall," which addresses pro-Palestinian protests at U.S. universities, with visuals of the Gaza Strip displayed on screens. Following this, the Israeli-American Council (IAC) launched a petition urging Ed Sheeran and tour organizers to drop Macklemore from the lineup. The petition's authors argued that Sheeran's concert "is not a political rally or protest event" and accused Macklemore of using the venue to advance a one-sided political stance. During his second performance, Macklemore addressed Jewish people, asserting that criticizing Israel, accusing it of apartheid, and speaking out against what he termed genocide is "in no way, shape, or form about you." He stated his message is about peace and ensuring all people are treated with "dignity, respect, and equality." He later posted a video of his performance, writing, "The pursuit of all people being treated equally should never be controversial." As of this report, Ed Sheeran has not publicly commented on the demands to remove Macklemore. The Hollywood Reporter reached out to a representative for Sheeran for comment but received no response.