Macklemore Faces Petition To Leave Ed Sheeran Tour After 'Free Palestine' Speech Triggers Backlash

Macklemore is facing calls to be removed from Ed Sheeran's LOOP Tour after using his opening set at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium to make a strong political statement about the Israel-Gaza conflict. The rapper spoke in support of Palestinians during shows on 4 and 5 September, prompting an Israeli-American organisation to launch a petition calling for his removal from the remaining tour dates.

The controversy has put pressure on British singer Ed Sheeran, whose official tour schedule continues to list Macklemore as a supporting act for several upcoming US dates, including shows in Philadelphia, Foxborough, Atlanta, Indianapolis, Charlotte, Arlington and Tampa. There has been no public announcement that Macklemore has been removed from those performances.

Macklemore's MetLife Stadium Speech

During his set, Macklemore used the stadium stage to express support for Palestinians and said people in Gaza and the occupied West Bank should know they had not been forgotten. He wore a keffiyeh and later performed his 2024 protest song Hind's Hall, which was inspired by pro-Palestinian student demonstrations at Columbia University.

'I believe that every human being walking on this earth deserves exactly the same freedom,' the artist said during his set on Friday after calling for a 'Free Palestine.' The rapper also criticised the Israeli government and said his opposition to what he described as genocide was not intended as criticism of Jewish people.

'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,' the rapper said at the MetLife Stadium. 'My message is for peace, love (and) 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, free all people in America living in fear over this terrorist organization ICE. None of us will be free until we are all free.'

Petition Calls for Rapper to be Removed

Macklemore's political theme during his set prompted the Israeli-American Council (IAC) to launch a petition to remove the rapper from the LOOP Tour, stating that the message of 'selective imagery, biased messaging, and disputed claims presented to a massive audience as fact, without context or complexity' was troubling.

'At Ed Sheeran's September 4 concert at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, opening act Macklemore used the stage to deliver an extended political message, called for 'Free Palestine' and performed Hind's Hall while images from Gaza and other political messaging were projected across the stadium screens,' the IAC petition stated.

'This was an Ed Sheeran concert - not a political rally, not a protest, and not an activist event,' it added. 'We call on Ed Sheeran, tour leadership, and the leadership of all venues hosting the Tour to remove Macklemore from the remaining LOOP Tour dates on which he is scheduled to appear.'

The number of signatures on the petition has not been publicly displayed. Its organisers are also asking tour officials to set clearer rules over political statements made by supporting artists.

Sheeran Yet to Address Controversy

Sheeran has not publicly responded to the petition or announced any change involving Macklemore. His official website continues to list the rapper among the support acts for upcoming LOOP Tour performances.

Meanwhile, Macklemore has defended the message behind his appearance. He shared footage of his MetLife Stadium speeches online and maintained that calling for equal treatment should not be treated as controversial. The dispute now leaves Sheeran and his tour team facing a decision over whether Macklemore will remain part of the scheduled US shows.