American rapper Macklemore kicked off his Free Palestine tour in Dublin, playing to a sold-out crowd of up to 13,000 at the 3Arena. The tour follows his recent removal from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour after making pro-Palestinian comments and criticizing the death toll in Gaza.
Fallout From Ed Sheeran’s Tour and Onstage Remarks
The rapper’s departure from Sheeran’s Loop Tour occurred after he made pro-Palestinian remarks and political speeches during two concerts. During those performances, he referred to the death toll from Israel’s military action in Gaza as a genocide, a claim that Israel rejects, and drew criticism from Jewish groups.
Sheeran subsequently stated that the decision to drop Macklemore from the lineup was made by his promoter rather than himself. Despite the separation, several acts who previously performed on Sheeran’s tour joined Macklemore on stage in Dublin, including singer-songwriter Hozier, rap trio Kneecap, and folk band Beoga.
Macklemore Directs Tour Proceeds to Palestinian Support Organizations
Macklemore has stated that all proceeds from the Free Palestine tour will be directed to organizations supporting Palestinians. Following the opening night in Dublin, the tour is scheduled to continue with a performance in Paris on Thursday and a show in London on Friday.
The broader conflict forms the backdrop for the tour. The Israeli military launched its campaign in Gaza following an unprecedented Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in about 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages taken. According to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza—figures considered reliable by the United Nations—more than 70,000 people have been killed during Israel’s military campaign. Meanwhile, the Israeli military maintains that its troops conduct self-defense operations in Gaza and the occupied West Bank in accordance with international law.
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