Macklemore and Ed Sheeran's 'Free Palestine' controversy explained after several celebs speak out

The music world has been thrown into a major political row after Macklemore and Ed Sheeran found themselves at the centre of a growing controversy over the situation in Gaza.

What started with a speech at one of Sheeran's US tour shows has now spiralled into a very public dispute involving venue owners, antisemitism allegations, several artists pulling out of the tour, and a whole host of celebrities speaking out.

Macklemore, real name Benjamin Hammond Haggerty, had been supporting Sheeran on the American leg of his Loop tour.

After he passionately criticised the Israeli government while pledging his support to Palestine during his performances at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium, venues reportedly warned that they would not host the remaining shows if he remained on the bill.

The rapper was subsequently removed from the remaining dates.

But rather than putting the controversy to bed, the decision has sparked another wave of reactions, with fellow support acts Finneas, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe and Irish band Beoga all withdrawing from the tour.

Meanwhile, stars including Pink, Kneecap, Garbage, Paloma Faith, Kehlani, Zara Larsson, Greta Thunberg and Ms Rachel have weighed in.

Here's everything that has happened, in order.

Macklemore's concert comments

The controversy began during Macklemore's MetLife Stadium performances in New Jersey on 4 and 5 September, when he addressed the situation in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, telling the crowd that people there had not been forgotten.

He then said the words that would set off the controversy, 'Free Palestine', before performing his protest song Hind's Hall, showing images to the crowd that depicted destruction in Gaza.

The rapper has been vocal about Palestine for years, and he later pointed out that the comments he made at MetLife were not new for him.

He also stressed that his message was intended to be about peace and equality, rather than an attack on Jewish people.

At another MetLife performance, Macklemore specifically addressed Jewish members of the audience, saying that his criticism of the Israeli government was not criticism of them. He also described his message as one of 'peace, love' and treating all people with 'dignity, respect and equality'.

Backlash from Anti-semitism groups

Following his comments, the rapper faced criticism from pro-Israel and Anti-semitism-focused organisations.

The Israeli American Council called for Macklemore to be removed from the tour, and a petition was launched demanding that he lose his support slot.

StopAntisemitism also criticised the rapper's comments.

The controversy centred partly on the distinction between criticism of the Israeli government and Anti-semitism, with Macklemore insisting that his comments were directed at Israeli government policy, rather than Jewish people.

The Israeli American Council and others took a different view of the situation though, while New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft later said he believed Macklemore's recent actions had to be considered alongside what he described as a broader history of Anti-semitic rhetoric and imagery.

Pink speaks out against him

Pink was also pulled into the row after she reshared a post criticising Macklemore's performance.

The singer later clarified that her position had been misunderstood.

Pink, real name Alecia Beth Moore-Hart, insisted she was not objecting to the words 'Free Palestine' themselves, nor was she arguing against Palestinians advocating for their rights.

Instead, she claimed her reaction came from what she described as a frightening experience for Jewish people at the concert.

She explained that she wanted to be able to talk about feeling frightened 'as a Jewish mom' without that being interpreted as support for the suffering or killing of Palestinians.

The 47-year-old also made clear that she had not called for Macklemore to be silenced or fired, and said she did not want him removed from the tour, adding that Palestinians deserved a future that recognised their humanity and aspirations, stressing that she did not speak for Israel or any government.

The tour removes Macklemore

On 14 September, Macklemore announced that he had been removed from the remaining US dates of Sheeran's string of concerts.

Messina Touring Group, the promoter behind the shows, subsequently confirmed that Macklemore would no longer appear, claiming venues had indicated that they would not allow the concerts to go ahead with the rapper in the line-up.

Macklemore's emotional Instagram statement

Macklemore, 43, responded to his removal from the tour with a lengthy Instagram statement on Monday (14 Sept), addressing his conversations with Sheeran and why he believes speaking out about Gaza remains so important.

"We have careers, money, opportunities, safety and audiences around the world," he wrote of his fellow musicians. "Whatever consequences any of us face for what we say, we get to go home to our families."

Instead, Macklemore said the focus should remain on Palestinians living through the conflict.

"The victims are the Palestinian people," he wrote, referring to the men, women and children he said had been 'killed, starved, displaced and forced to live through unimaginable violence'.

The 'Thrift Shop' singer continued: "People are being killed today, and people will be killed tomorrow. I want to make sure that as I tell this story, we don't lose sight of that."

He then addressed his relationship with Sheeran, revealing that the pair have known each other for 13 years and describing the singer as a 'brother'.

Macklemore quickly made it clear, however, that their friendship would not change his position on Palestine, adding that the pair had endured 'difficult conversations' during the week after his MetLife Stadium performances.

He also claimed Sheeran told him that his use of the words 'Free Palestine', alongside an image of the Palestinian flag, had been hurtful to people he had spoken to.

But Macklemore said he struggled to understand how those words could be viewed as more offensive than the suffering of Palestinian civilians.

"But he couldn't get past his public facing, 'I don't take sides'," Macklemore continued, questioning why his political comments had suddenly become such an issue, pointing out that he had been speaking about Palestine on stage for years.

"What I said at MetLife I have been saying on stages around the world for almost three years," he wrote. "So why is it an issue now?"

The 'Can't Hold Us' hitmaker subsequently suggested that the difference was the size of the platform he was now standing on, saying he was performing alongside 'one of the biggest artists in the world' in some of America's biggest stadiums.

He also pushed back against accusations that his comments were antisemitic, stressing that his criticism was directed at the Israeli government and its actions, rather than Jewish people.

The rapper had made a similar distinction during his second MetLife performance, telling Jewish members of the audience that his criticism of Israel and what he described as genocide was 'in no way' criticism of them.

"My message is for peace, love; for all human beings to be treated with dignity, respect and equality," he told the crowd.

Ed Sheeran's response

The following day, 35-year-old British singer Sheeran set out his version of what had happened.

He began by claiming he was 'appalled' by the ongoing 'conflict between Israel and Palestine', and describing the situation as a 'human tragedy'.

The 'Shape of You' singer then insisted that Macklemore's removal from the tour was not his decision, alleging that the rapper had asked to join the previous year and that he had agreed because he respected him as an artist.

Sheeran also said Macklemore had been given the same freedom as his other support acts to perform whatever material he wanted during his set.

"I respect Macklemore as an artist and as a person," Sheeran penned, while making clear that he did not necessarily share his approach to political expression, adding that the situation changed following Macklemore's performances at MetLife Stadium.

The musician said that venues hosting the upcoming shows had told him they would no longer allow the concerts to take place if Macklemore remained on the bill, claiming he spent the entire week trying to find a way forward, speaking to venues, promoters and people on different sides of the debate.

He specifically said he had spoken with Robert Kraft, who was involved because of the planned Gillette Stadium show, as well as other people who he believed could help find a solution.

"Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter's decision, it was not mine," Sheeran claimed. "Macklemore's contract for the tour was with the promoter, not me.

"I would never let down the fans who had made plans, nor would I abandon the touring crew and the other support acts and musicians who rely on me for work and to make a living."

The singer also addressed why he had not made the same kind of political statements as Macklemore during his own shows, citing the fact that his 'audience includes young people, often children, of all backgrounds'.

"Those who come to my shows do not expect a political forum," Sheeran went on. "I respect Macklemore's strength of purpose to stand up and shout for what he believes. However, there is room for multiple approaches to the same end: peace.

"I choose to use my fame and platform to be a place of safety and sanctuary, to maintain diplomacy and keep conversations open, not closed. If we only focus on shouting the loudest, nothing will ever change."

He ended by reiterating that he had spent days trying to resolve the situation behind the scenes.

"I know who I am, both as a person and an artist," he wrote, adding that the people who knew him would understand what he stood for.

Other performers pull out

The fallout did not end with Macklemore's removal from the tour, however, with several of the other musicians scheduled to appear pulling out in light of Sheeran's social media statement.

Finneas

Finneas, the brother of Billie Eilish, who had been due to support Sheeran on six South American dates, announced last night that he would no longer perform alongside Sheeran.

"Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed," the 29-year-old wrote. "I have decided to withdraw from my upcoming tour dates with Ed Sheeran. I stand with Palestine and its people."

Aaron Rowe

Fellow star Aaron Rowe, who had been scheduled to appear on the remaining North American dates, also announced his withdrawal, stressing that the decision was not easy because Sheeran had been a friend who had changed his life.

But Rowe said his Irish background made it impossible for him to simply continue with the tour while he believed artists were being silenced over their support for Palestinians.

"But as Irish people, we know all too well about genocide, forced famine and violent occupation," he wrote. "I cannot stand by and allow billionaires to use their position of power to silence the rightful voices of those who speak up against Israeli genocide and who highlight the savage murder of children."

He added: "I would lose all respect for myself to carry on as normal."

Lukas Graham

Danish band Lukas Graham also pulled out, with frontman Lukas Forchhammer pointing to the importance of artists talking about war, civilians being killed and children deserving the chance to grow up regardless of where they live.

"Money doesn't give you the right to own the conversation," he hit out. "Nobody's bank balance should decide who gets to speak or which suffering we're allowed to acknowledge."

The band said it loved and respected Sheeran and remained grateful for the opportunities he had given them, but ultimately decided they could not continue with the tour under the circumstances.

Beoga

Sheeran's Irish backing band Beoga also announced that they would leave the tour, acknowledged how significant the opportunity to play stadium shows had been for them, but said they had decided to leave 'following the silencing of Macklemore'.

"We are a traditional Irish band who never saw ourselves playing in stadiums of that size and that opportunity is not lost on us," they wrote, insisting, however, that their friendship with Sheeran would continue.

"We believe in dialogue as a means of progressing the plight of the Palestinian people," they lastly emphasised.

Robert Kraft's statement

Robert Kraft, who became another major figure in the controversy because of Gillette Stadium's involvement, did not deny that he opposed Macklemore appearing at the venue.

He claimed his concerns were based on Macklemore's recent actions and what he described as a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery that he believed had been deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community.

"This decision is not about diminishing the suffering of innocent Palestinians or denying anyone the right to advocate on their behalf," the 85-year-old businessman said. "Their pain and loss are real."

Kraft went on to argue that support for Palestinians should not, in his view, come at the expense of the Jewish community or ignore Hamas and its role in the situation, claiming he agreed with Macklemore that 'too many lives have been lost and there has been too much suffering'.

He finished by saying he would be willing to meet the rapper in person to discuss their disagreement, adding: "Ultimately our goal is the same — peace for all people, an end to suffering, and an end to all hate."

Other celebrities have now entered the row

Stella Parton

Dolly Parton's sister Stella Parton subsequently pledged her support for Macklemore, claiming she was 'sounding the alarm' over what she saw as a worrying situation for artists speaking publicly about Gaza.

She also questioned how a performer could be removed from a major tour for using their platform to support Palestinians.

Kneecap

Irish rap trio Kneecap were among the most vocal supporters, sharing a photo with Macklemore and writing on Instagram: "All love and solidarity to @macklemore. FREE PALESTINE." They also posted: "Free Palestine. They can never silence the truth."

Garbage

Garbage branded Macklemore's removal 'sheer madness', arguing that nothing he had said was violent, hateful or radical enough to justify being taken off the tour.

The band questioned why an artist speaking about Palestinian suffering should result in him losing a major platform, arguing that silencing someone does nothing to resolve the underlying conflict.

Paloma Faith

British singer Paloma Faith praised Macklemore directly, telling him in the comments of his post: "You are a rare and important voice… thank you for existing."

She also described his statement as 'so articulate and so powerful', adding: "You are a hero."

Zara Larsson

Zara Larsson showed her support for Macklemore by responding to his statement with a series of heart emojis, publicly signalling her solidarity as the backlash against his removal grew.

Kehlani

Kehlani suggested the controversy was part of a wider pattern, writing in the comments of his statement: "A LOT of the venues/owners are rallied together this way."

She also told Macklemore: "Honoured to know you brother. adore you. behind you!!!!"

Ms Rachel

Children's presenter Ms Rachel criticised Sheeran's handling of the situation, arguing that artists should not be punished for speaking about Palestinian suffering, and questioning why the singer had not used the moment to stand behind Macklemore.

In a fiery statement, she suggested that remaining silent while people are suffering is itself a political choice.

Greta Thunberg

Activist Greta Thunberg offered Macklemore 'full solidarity' in light of his statement, adding online: "Free Palestine. Artists' very active silence in the face of injustice and genocide will not be forgotten."

LADbible Group previously contacted reps of Sheeran for comment.