Macklemore Announces ‘Free Palestine’ Tour After Sheeran Controversy

US rapper Macklemore has announced a new concert series titled “Free Palestine”, with proceeds from the shows set to benefit organisations providing humanitarian, medical, educational and community support to Palestinians.

The announcement comes after Macklemore was removed from the remaining US dates of Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour following pro-Palestinian remarks he made on stage in New Jersey earlier this month.

Macklemore will begin the new concert series in Dublin on October 26, followed by shows in Paris on October 29 and London on October 30. Organisers said additional dates, including performances in the United States, would be announced later.

The concerts will feature Macklemore performing alongside artists and friends, although no additional lineup has yet been announced.

Announcing the tour, Macklemore said he had spent the previous week contacting artists who had used their platforms to express support for Palestinians.

“Because of how quickly all of this has come together, a lot of the conversations, schedules and details are still being worked out,” he said, adding that the project represented “a moment of momentum” and that there was work to be done.

The announcement follows Macklemore’s removal from Sheeran’s US tour after comments he made during a September 4 performance at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

During the performance, Macklemore expressed support for Palestinians and said he wanted people in Gaza and the occupied West Bank to know they had not been forgotten.

The comments triggered criticism and calls for his removal from the tour. The promoter, Messina Touring Group, subsequently said it had been informed by venues hosting upcoming shows that they would not allow concerts featuring Macklemore to proceed.

Sheeran later said the decision to remove Macklemore had not been his.

The controversy was followed by the withdrawal of the remaining supporting acts from Sheeran’s tour. Irish singer Aaron Rowe, US musician Finneas, Danish band Lukas Graham and Irish traditional group Beoga all announced that they would no longer participate in the remaining dates.

Sheeran subsequently addressed the controversy during his September 19 concert in Philadelphia.

He apologised to fans and said he was deeply concerned about the situation surrounding Macklemore’s removal. Sheeran also described the situation in Gaza as “catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate” and spoke about the broader questions surrounding artists, venues and freedom of expression.

Macklemore has also pledged to direct proceeds from his new concert project towards organisations working with Palestinians.

The organisations listed by the tour organisers include Anera, Glia, Gaza Soup Kitchen, Taawon, HEAL Palestine, Palestinian Youth Movement, Middle East Children’s Alliance, Jewish Voice for Peace, Medical Aid for Palestinians, Institute for Middle East Understanding, Palestine Children's Relief Fund and UNRWA USA.

According to the organisers, the beneficiary organisations work across areas including medical care, humanitarian assistance, education, community support, advocacy, organising and media.

Macklemore's first confirmed show will take place at Dublin's 3Arena on October 26, with the European leg continuing in Paris and London later that week.