Macklemore Defends 'Palestine' Remarks, Distinguishes Criticism of Israel from Anti-Semitism

Rapper Macklemore addressed controversy surrounding his opening performance for Ed Sheeran in New Jersey, where he called for "freeing Palestine" and performed his song "Hind's Hall." During a second performance on Saturday at MetLife Stadium, Macklemore clarified that his criticism of Israel is not directed at Jewish people, while reiterating his strong accusations against the country. He stated, "To all my brothers and sisters, Jewish people: criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, and opposition to genocide are in no way criticism of you." Macklemore emphasized his message of peace and equality for all people.

He expanded his remarks by calling to "free Palestine, free Lebanon, free Cuba, free Congo, free Sudan, and free all the people in America who live in fear of this terrorist organization, ICE." He added, "None of us are free until all of us are free." Macklemore later posted a video of his statement on social media, writing, "The desire for all people to be treated equally should never be controversial."

The controversy ignited after his initial Friday performance, where he announced that one reason he joined Sheeran's tour was the opportunity to stand in stadiums across the U.S. and call to "free Palestine." He told the audience, "I want these words to be heard loud and clear, so that the people in Gaza and the occupied West Bank know that we have not forgotten them." He then performed "Hind's Hall," inspired by the pro-Palestinian protest at Columbia University, with images from Gaza displayed on screens.

Israelis in attendance expressed shock and distress, with some noting that friends were killed in the war or murdered during the Nova music festival. They described hearing Macklemore's performance and the crowd's reaction as "a knife in the heart."

In response, the Israeli-American Council launched a petition urging Ed Sheeran to remove Macklemore from his remaining tour dates. The petition argues that the event was a concert, not a political rally, and questions the appropriateness of using a global stage for a "one-sided political agenda." Macklemore is scheduled to continue as an opening act for Sheeran until November. Ed Sheeran has not yet publicly commented on the controversy or the calls for Macklemore's removal from the tour.