Previously, American rapper Macklemore was dropped from the remaining dates of Ed Sheeran’s stadium tour after making “Free Palestine” remarks onstage, prompting the tour’s remaining support acts to pull out as well.
Ed has since addressed the situation, clarifying that Macklemore’s removal was not his decision, but the promoter’s, as they had a direct contract with the rapper.
Macklemore announces “Free Palestine Tour”
Following the Ed Sheeran fallout, Macklemore recently took to Instagram to announce his new “Free Palestine Tour” in Dublin, Paris and London, with all shows since selling out.
In his caption, the 43-year-old rapper noted a growing public awareness of Palestinian liberation and rising expectations for artists to speak up, despite attempts to silence them.
“If these last couple of weeks have shown us anything, it’s that something has shifted over the last three years. There has been a collective awakening around Palestinian liberation, the power of billionaires that try to censor that call, and what we expect from artists right now,” he wrote.
He added that artists can no longer afford to stay apolitical amid the genocide in Palestine, adding that people expect them to educate themselves, support their communities and use their platforms to speak up for Palestine despite attempts to silence them.
“Schedules and details are still being worked out”
Macklemore also shared that he had spent the past week reaching out to artists who have stood in solidarity with Palestinians, even when it came with consequences.
He explained that while the tour’s schedule and other details were still being worked out, he felt it was important to act on the growing momentum and announced that they would be going on tour.
“So, as you all know, my schedule freed up a bit. 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. Artists who understand that our platforms mean very little if we’re only willing to use them when it’s safe.
“Because of how quickly all of this has come together, a lot of the conversations, schedules and details are still being worked out. But this is a moment of momentum, and there is work to be done. So we’re going on tour.”
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