The Israeli-American Council is calling for the rapper Macklemore to be dropped from the opening slot on pop star Ed Sheeran’s U.S. tour for chanting “Free Palestine” and accusing Israel of apartheid and genocide during his two performances at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey last weekend.
Known for such hits as “Thrift Shop” and “Same Love,” the rapper’s anti-Israel monologue preceded his 2024 song, “Hind’s Hall,” referring to Columbia University’s Hamilton Hall, which pro-Palestinian protesters occupied and unofficially renamed for Hind Rajab, a 6-year-old Palestinian girl who was killed during the war in Gaza.
“I had 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,’” he said at the show he opened for Ed Sheeran Saturday night, according to videos posted from the concerts. “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 their back and that we have not forgotten them.”
He went on to dedicate the song to “the bravery of Columbia University students, the encampment movement that mobilized the entire world.”
The rapper, whose full name is Benjamin Haggerty, is 43 and grew up in Seattle. In November 2023, just a month after the Hamas attack on Israel, he accused Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in a speech in Washington.
“Ed Sheeran – do not allow your stage to be used to divide people or spread one-sided political propaganda,” IAC said, circulating a petition demanding Macklemore be taken off the bill for his remaining nine dates of the tour.
Messages left for representatives of Macklemore, Ed Sheeran and the concert promoters AEG and the Messina Group were not returned.
Sheeran and Macklemore are slated to perform for two nights at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro on Sept. 25 and 26. Messages left for Robert Kraft, who owns the stadium and the New England Patriots, were not returned.
Macklemore addressed the Jewish community directly during his appearances, saying, “To all of my Jewish brothers and sisters: Criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide in no way is criticism of you. My message is for peace, love and for all human beings to be treated with dignity, respect and equality.”
But reaction from the Jewish community was swift, and many Jewish organizations denounced Macklemore’s act.
The ADL wrote on social media: “Ed Sheeran’s fans came for a concert, not performative, biased and hateful anti-Israel ‘activism’ from his opener, Macklemore. Imagine being a Jewish or Israeli fan who came with family or friends to enjoy the show, only to be confronted with this hostility from the stage. Or feeling so unwelcome by the opening act that you leave early. This isn’t new for Macklemore. He has a record of demonizing Israel and Israelis, falsely accusing Israel of genocide and engaging in antisemitic rhetoric and behavior. This is completely unacceptable.”
This is not the first time Macklemore has been accused of taking aim at Jews. During a concert in 2014 in Seattle, he performed in a black suit with a dark wig, fake beard and a large prosthetic nose.
