Rapper Macklemore is addressing the sharp wave of criticism following his recent on-stage political comments during an opening set for Ed Sheeran’s stadium tour. The “Can’t Hold Us” artist joined Sheeran’s +–=÷× Loop Tour as an opener at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, performing across two consecutive nights on September 4 and 5. During the second show, Macklemore delivered an impassioned speech focused on the ongoing violence in the Middle East, a move that drew swift backlash from members of the Jewish community and various advocacy organizations.
Addressing the fallout directly, Macklemore took to social media on Monday, September 7, uploading the complete video transcript of his speech alongside a statement clarifying his intentions. “Wanting all humans to be treated equal should never be controversial,” he wrote in the caption accompanying the post, standing firmly by his message of human rights while seeking to clarify the scope of his words.
During the September 5 stadium performance, Macklemore paused his musical set to address the capacity crowd directly, laying out his personal reasons for joining the massive tour:
“I’ve been trying to figure out a way to say this all day. One of the reasons why I wanted to come on this tour was because I wanted to stand up here on stages and stadiums across America and say two words that are very near and dear to my heart: Free Palestine.
I said, Free Palestine.
I want those words to be loud and clear, so the people from Gaza, all the way to the occupied West Bank, know that we have not forgotten them.
And this next song was inspired by the bravery of Columbia University students who led an encampment movement that mobilized the entire world; open up hearts, myself included, so thank you to those students that risked their diplomas, that risked their tuition, that risked their scholarships, that stood up and said, no. CUAD students, Students for Justice in Palestine, and Jewish Voices for Peace. Thank you, guys.
To all of my Jewish brothers and sisters: criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide in no way is a criticism of you. My message is for peace; love for all human beings to be treated with dignity, respect, and equality.
So I say Free Palestine, I say Free Lebanon, I say Free Cuba, I say Free Congo, Free Sudan, I say Free all people in America living in fear of this terrorist organization, ICE. None of us will be free until we are all free.”
The speech quickly sparked strong opposition from public advocacy groups, culminating in formal demands for concert organizers to take action. The Israeli-American Council (IAC) spearheaded a public petition demanding Macklemore’s immediate removal from all upcoming dates on Sheeran’s national tour.
In an official public statement accompanying the petition, the IAC articulated their stance: “This was an Ed Sheeran concert – not a political rally, not a protest, and not an activist event. The issue is not whether Macklemore has the right to hold political views. The question is where the line should be drawn when an opening act uses a global concert platform to advance a one-sided political agenda.” Neither Ed Sheeran nor tour promoters have issued an official response regarding the petition as the tour continues its schedule.
