The rapper launched a three-city European benefit tour with surprise guest performers following his removal from Ed Sheeran’s stadium shows.
Rapper Macklemore launched his three-city Free Palestine Tour on Monday night at Dublin’s 3Arena, playing to a sold-out audience of up to 13,000 people. The concert took place weeks after the performer was removed from Ed Sheeran’s U.S. tour for making political statements during his opening sets, as BBC News reported.
Surprise guests and charity pledges in Dublin
According to The Hollywood Reporter, organizers kept the Dublin lineup secret until showtime. Macklemore brought out Irish musicians Hozier and Kneecap, Palestinian-American producer DJ Habibeats, Palestinian singer Lina Makoul, and rapper M1 of Dead Prez. Boega, an Irish backing band that walked away from Sheeran’s tour in support of Macklemore, also played at the arena.
The evening included remarks from Irish actor Liam Cunningham, activist Nadia Greenspan, and organizer Samir Eskanda. “Enjoying tonight does not mean forgetting about the suffering in Gaza,” Cunningham told the crowd. Macklemore spoke about the controversy over his slogans, telling the audience that music has historically given people a place to gather, share grief, and resist.
Organizers stated that all ticket proceeds from the tour will go toward charities providing medical supplies, food, education, and humanitarian assistance to Palestinians. Macklemore also gave the $1 million salary he earned from Sheeran’s tour to the relief effort, Variety reported.
Speeches at New Jersey concerts
The dispute began during two early September concerts at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where Macklemore opened for Sheeran. During his set on Sept. 4, Macklemore explained that he joined the tour specifically to chant “Free Palestine” in front of stadium crowds. He also sang a track dedicated to student demonstrators at Columbia University and characterized the death toll from Israel’s military operation in Gaza as genocide, a claim the Israeli government disputes.
BBC News noted that the Israeli military began its offensive after the Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which left around 1,200 people dead and took 251 hostages. Gaza health officials have since reported that more than 70,000 people have died during the war. Israel maintains that its forces operate in self-defense under international law.
Macklemore’s remarks drew immediate pushback. Pop singer Pink criticized the remarks, and the Israeli American Council started a petition demanding his dismissal, arguing that Sheeran’s fans hadn’t gathered for a political protest. The rapper repeated his slogan during the Sept. 5 concert while adding that his comments were not meant as a criticism of Jewish people.
Stadium backlash and artist walkouts
Concert promoter Messina Touring Group dropped Macklemore from the lineup on Sept. 14. The company stated that several upcoming venues refused to host shows if the rapper remained on the bill, which threatened to cause wider cancellations across the tour. Macklemore later alleged that Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft barred him from his venue and pressed other owners to follow suit. Kraft accused Macklemore of hate speech and announced that he and Sheeran would donate $2 million to regional humanitarian aid.
The promoter’s move prompted immediate walkouts by other musicians on the tour. Support acts Finneas, Lukas Graham, and Aaron Rowe withdrew in solidarity with Macklemore, alongside members of Sheeran’s touring band. Sheeran initially issued a statement explaining why he keeps his platform neutral for younger fans, but he faced criticism for that stance.
During a concert on Sept. 19 in Philadelphia, Sheeran addressed the dispute directly from the stage. He said he had made mistakes during the controversy, voiced worry about venues attempting to pre-approve artists’ onstage material, and spoke out about the war. “What is happening in Gaza is catastrophic and unjustifiable, and disproportionate,” he said.
Next stops on the European tour
Macklemore’s Dublin performance follows an Oct. 22 appearance at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado. The remaining two dates on his benefit run are scheduled for the Accor Arena in Paris on Oct. 29, followed by the OVO Arena Wembley in London on Oct. 30.
