Macklemore has announced a series of concerts titled the Free Palestine Tour, which will take place in Dublin, Paris, and London in late October. The announcement follows his removal from Ed Sheeran's United States tour after expressing support for Palestine amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Macklemore stated that he will donate all proceeds from the tour to Palestinian causes.
In a statement, Macklemore emphasized the importance of artists taking a stand on political issues, saying, "Being apolitical during a genocide doesn’t work anymore." He noted a shift in public awareness regarding Palestinian liberation and the role of artists in advocating for social justice.
Macklemore mentioned that he will be joined by other musicians, whose names will be announced later, and that US shows are also being planned.
The rapper previously voiced his support for Palestine during a performance at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, stating, "Free Palestine" and advocating for peace and equality. Following this, he was dropped from Sheeran's tour, with venue owner Robert Kraft citing concerns over Macklemore's past comments as the reason for the decision. Kraft, a Jewish-American billionaire, has been involved in supporting Israeli causes. Macklemore alleged that Kraft influenced other stadium owners to prevent him from performing. While Kraft and Sheeran have not commented on these allegations, Sheeran indicated that the decision to remove Macklemore was made by the tour's promoter.