Macklemore Books 'Free Palestine Tour' After Sheeran Exit

Macklemore has announced a 'Free Palestine Tour' with Dublin, Paris and London dates after being dropped from Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour over onstage remarks.

Macklemore has announced a new concert series under the banner "Free Palestine Tour," weeks after he was removed from the remaining U.S. dates of Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour, according to 101.5 CIL-FM and The American Bazaar. The controversy began after his Sept. 4 performance at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where he called for a "Free Palestine" and performed a song dedicated to pro-Palestinian protesters at Columbia University. The American Bazaar reports the rapper, whose real name is Benjamin Haggerty, was subsequently dropped from Sheeran's tour. In his announcement, Macklemore said his schedule had "freed up a bit" and that he had been reaching out to artists who have publicly supported Palestinians, with details still being finalized because the shows came together quickly.

The surprise is how quickly a dismissal became a headline tour. The Daily Star reports Macklemore announced the concerts on Instagram, saying he had contacted artists who had "shown up and used their stages to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people." Islam Times, citing The Guardian, reports the announcement came less than two weeks after he was dropped from Sheeran's U.S. stadium tour over his onstage remarks. Being apolitical during a genocide doesn't work anymore." Islam Times reports he warned that when the wealthy decide which voices are allowed onstage, "everyone should be paying attention."

Multiple outlets corroborate the initial run. The European leg opens Oct. 26 at Dublin's 3Arena, followed by Paris' Accor Arena on Oct. 29 and London's OVO Arena Wembley on Oct. 30, with U.S. dates and participating artists to be announced, per 101.5 CIL-FM and The Daily Star. The Daily Star reports Macklemore was removed after venue owners told promoter Messina Touring Group he would not be allowed to perform, and several other supporting acts then withdrew from Sheeran's tour in solidarity. Islam Times names the departed acts as Irish songwriter Aaron Rowe, Finneas, Danish band Lukas Graham and the Irish trad group Beoga, and reports that Rowe cited Ireland's own history of genocide, forced famine and violent occupation. Islam Times also reports Sheeran has lost nearly half a million social media followers since the controversy began, citing The Independent.

The American Bazaar reports venue owner Robert Kraft confirmed Macklemore was barred from Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, and accused the rapper of antisemitism, while noting Kraft has donated to several Israeli causes. The Detroit Free Press reports Kraft cited material from the MetLife appearance and what he described as a history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery, and that Sheeran said the removal was not his decision and that venues had warned they would not host concerts with Macklemore on the lineup, which could have jeopardized the rest of the tour. Per the Detroit Free Press, Sheeran's Gillette Stadium shows were then canceled outright by a nor'easter, and Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell said her office pressed Ticketmaster for refunds after nearly 200 consumer complaints. The Source notes the storm's timing fueled a "karma" reaction online aimed at Kraft.

According to 101.5 CIL-FM, all proceeds from the concerts will benefit 12 organizations supporting Palestinians, including Anera, Gaza Soup Kitchen, HEAL Palestine, Medical Aid for Palestinians, Jewish Voice for Peace, the Palestine Children's Relief Fund and UNRWA USA. Islam Times lists the full set as also including Taawon, the Palestinian Youth Movement, Glia, the Middle East Children's Alliance and the Institute for Middle East Understanding, and says a press release described the groups as covering medical care, humanitarian relief, education, community support, advocacy, organizing and media. Macklemore, per The American Bazaar, said people are asking artists "to use the stage for more than entertainment" and "to push back when the call for a Free Palestine is met with attempts to silence it." Islam Times reports no other performers have been confirmed yet.

Tickets are scheduled to go on sale Sept. 30, with a presale beginning Sept. 28, and fans can sign up for updates and first ticket access at macklemore.com, per 101.5 CIL-FM. Islam Times says presale access can be registered through the rapper's website and that additional North American dates will be announced later. The Daily Star reports organisers say additional cities and dates, including U.S. shows, will be announced, and that the artists joining Macklemore will be named later. Meanwhile, Sheeran's Loop Tour continues without its original support lineup: The Source reports his next scheduled stop is Oct. 3 in Atlanta, after promoter Messina Touring Group said in a statement Friday that the Gillette Stadium shows were canceled for fan, staff and crew safety amid severe New England weather warnings, with Ticketmaster buyers automatically refunded.