An Israeli-American advocacy group has launched a petition calling for rapper Macklemore to be removed from the remaining dates of Ed Sheeran’s tour after he used his opening performances in New Jersey to express support for Palestinians and criticise Israel’s conduct in Gaza.
Macklemore opened for Sheeran at MetLife Stadium on Friday, September 4, and Saturday, September 5, where he repeatedly shouted “Free Palestine” and performed his 2024 protest song “Hind’s Hall.”
During the performance, images relating to Gaza and pro-Palestinian demonstrations were displayed on screens behind the rapper. The Israeli-American Council subsequently launched a petition urging Sheeran and tour organisers to remove Macklemore from the remaining dates of the “Loop” tour.
The group argued that concertgoers had paid to attend a music event rather than a political rally. The petition does not publicly display the number of signatures it has received.
Macklemore’s performance also prompted divided reactions online. Some concertgoers said they walked out and accused the rapper of promoting antisemitic rhetoric, while others defended his decision to use his platform to speak about the Israel-Gaza war. Macklemore has publicly expressed support for Palestinians and criticised Israel’s actions in Gaza on several occasions in recent years.
His song “Hind’s Hall,” released in 2024 amid pro-Palestinian demonstrations on US university campuses, also attracted criticism at the time. Singer-songwriter Matisyahu accused Macklemore and the song of antisemitism in 2024, arguing that it was worsening divisions surrounding the conflict.
Macklemore sparked further controversy that year when he chanted “f*** America” during a pro-Palestinian festival in Seattle. Neither the criticism from the Israeli-American Council nor the accusations from some concertgoers establish that Macklemore’s remarks were antisemitic; they reflect the views of those critics.