Macklemore announces new tour in support of Palestine
Says he has 'free time' after being dropped as opener for Ed Sheeran's tour
Macklemore says he's launching a tour of his own after being removed as an opener for the U.S. leg of English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran's tour — and all proceeds from the shows will go to organizations supporting Palestinians.
Macklemore was dropped after the owners of several American venues threatened to cancel Sheeran's shows if the rapper continued as his opening act, according to a statement from Messina Touring Group, the promoter of the U.S. leg of the tour, to Rolling Stone magazine.
uncertain
rapper → announce → magazine
The rapper has openly expressed his pro-Palestinian views for years and has made similar remarks on different stages in the past.
asserted
rapper → express → past
"What happened to me is bigger than one artist or one stage.
asserted
happened → happen → artist
When the billionaire class can decide which voices are allowed on stage and which ones are too dangerous to hear, everyone should be paying attention," the rapper wrote in a post on Instagram, adding that his schedule had "freed up a bit" since being removed as Sheeran's opening act.
asserted
schedule → decide → act
He announced three October performance dates in Dublin, Paris and London, calling it the Free Palestine Tour.
asserted
He → announce → it
The poster says those shows will feature Macklemore "and friends."
asserted
shows → say → Macklemore
The rapper said U.S. dates will also be announced.
asserted
dates → say → ?
"I’ve spent the last week reaching out to artists who have shown up and used their stages to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people, regardless of the consequences," his caption reads.
asserted
caption → spend → consequences
"Artists who understand that our platforms mean very little if we’re only willing to use them when it’s safe."
asserted
it → understand → them
According to a press release from Live Nation, the shows will benefit several Palestinian aid organizations, including Gaza Soup Kitchen, Palestinian Youth Movement, Jewish Voice for Peace and an UNRWA USA, the American committee of the UN agency dedicated to Palestinian refugees.
uncertain
shows → accord → refugees
Macklemore opens for Sheeran on his Loop Tour.
asserted
Macklemore → open → Tour
Videos from the performances show the rapper repeating "Free Palestine" to a cheering crowd and expressing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza and the Israeli-occupied West Bank, drawing criticism from Israeli advocacy groups.
asserted
rapper → show → groups
The Israeli-American Council calls for Sheeran to remove Macklemore from the rest of the tour, writing, "A concert stage is not a platform for anti-Israel and antisemitic propaganda."
asserted
stage → call → propaganda
Macklemore addresses the backlash surrounding his performances, writing on X, "Wanting all humans to be treated equal should never be controversial."
asserted
humans → address → X
U.S. singer-songwriter Pink, who is Jewish, shares a post on Instagram, after she faced criticism for resharing a post calling for Macklemore's removal.
asserted
she → share → removal
In it, she writes that the post "said things in words I didn't write, and I wouldn't have chosen all of them," but defended her criticism.
asserted
I → write → criticism
Macklemore cut from Ed Sheeran U.S. tour after onstage 'Free Palestine' remarks
- Video
Supporting acts quit Sheeran tour after Macklemore ousted over pro-Palestinian comments
Sept. 14:
asserted
Macklemore → cut → comments
Macklemore is officially dropped from the Loop Tour.
asserted
Macklemore → drop → Tour
The rapper puts out a lengthy statement on Instagram expressing sympathy for Sheeran, while also calling out his "apolitical" approach.
asserted
rapper → put → approach
He blames his ousting on businessman Robert Kraft, who owns Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts, which was soon set to host Sheeran's show.
asserted
which → blame → show
Macklemore says Kraft's threats put Sheeran, his friend, in a difficult position.
asserted
threats → say → position
(In a statement to CBC News, Kraft says Macklemore was dropped for his recent onstage comments and a "broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery that we believe has been deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community.")
asserted
we → say → community
The remaining Loop Tour openers and backing band drop out of their scheduled performances, in solidarity with Macklemore.
asserted
openers → remain → Macklemore
Sheeran takes to social media to explain his perspective, confirming that Kraft and other venue owners said they'd "pull the shows" if Macklemore stayed on.
asserted
Macklemore → take → shows
- Video
How Macklemore's 'Free Palestine' stance derailed Ed Sheeran's entire tour
Ed Sheeran apologizes to fans at 1st show since Macklemore dropped over 'Free Palestine' comments
Sept. 16:
asserted
Macklemore → derail → comments
Macklemore says he will donate all of his earnings from the Loop Tour to humanitarian organizations providing aid in Gaza, challenging Kraft, a billionaire, to do the same.
asserted
he → say → same
Kraft releases his own statement saying he would donate $2 million US to "aid in the region" — without further details — to match Sheeran's own donation.
asserted
he → release → donation
Kraft says Sheeran asked him to do so "before Macklemore challenged me."
asserted
Macklemore → say → me
Sheeran tearfully apologizes to fans in Philadelphia on the first stop of his tour without Macklemore and his other supporting acts, saying said he never wanted to be "an activist musician."
asserted
he → apologize → Macklemore
The Aporia
