Macklemore hits out at Ed Sheeran and Pink over 'Free Palestine' comment

Macklemore has criticised Ed Sheeran’s handling of the fallout from his pro-Palestinian speech, while responding to Pink’s criticism of the moment.

The 'Thrift Shop' star shared a fiery message on Instagram after being removed from the remaining US dates of Sheeran's Loop tour, following controversy over comments he made on stage while criticising the Israeli government.

The rapper, 43 - real name Benjamin Hammond Haggerty - had been due to perform as an opening act for the British singer.

However, Messina Touring Group, the promotional firm behind the gig, confirmed over the weekend that Macklemore would no longer appear at the remaining shows, saying venues had indicated they would not allow concerts to go ahead with him on the bill.

The decision followed Macklemore’s appearance at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on 4 September, when he used part of his set to voice his support for Palestinians.

During the speech, he said, 'Free Palestine!', telling residents of Gaza and the occupied West Bank that they had not been forgotten amidst hostilities with Israel. He also performed his protest track 'Hind's Hall' while images relating to the destruction in Gaza were shown on the stadium screens.

Backlash mounts against Macklemore's words on Palestine

The remarks subsequently prompted criticism from some pro-Israel groups, including StopAntisemitism and the Israeli American Council. The latter called for Macklemore to be removed from the tour.

Fellow chart-topper Pink also became involved after resharing a post criticising Macklemore's performance.

In a subsequent statement, Pink - real name Alecia Beth Moore-Hart - said her objection was not to the words 'Free Palestine' themselves, nor to Palestinians advocating for their rights.

Instead, she said she was responding to what she described as a frightening experience for her and other Jewish people in the audience.

"I have never asked for another artist to be silenced and I’m not asking now," Pink - real name Alecia Beth Moore-Hart - wrote. "I don’t need anyone fired, and I don’t need a refund."

She also said she wanted to be able to describe the experience as frightening 'as a Jewish mom' without having that fear interpreted as support for the killing of Palestinians.

Macklemore speaks out on the criticism

Macklemore, meanwhile, has rejected the idea that he, Sheeran or Pink should be considered the victims of the dispute.

In a lengthy statement posted after his removal from the tour, he wrote: "The victims are the Palestinian people."

He went on to describe Palestinians as having been killed, starved and displaced, while stressing that he wanted the focus to remain on their suffering.

"We have careers, money, opportunities, safety and audiences around the world," Macklemore wrote of himself, Sheeran and Pink. "Whatever consequences any of us face for what we say, we get to go home to our families."

'People are being killed today, and people will be killed tomorrow'

He then turned his attention to what he described as the reality facing Palestinians.

'The men, women and children who have been killed, starved, displaced and forced to live through unimaginable violence' were, he wrote, the victims.

Macklemore said he wanted to ensure that the debate surrounding his own career did not eclipse what he considers to be the central issue.

"People are being killed today, and people will be killed tomorrow," he wrote. "I want to make sure that as I tell this story, we don't lose sight of that."

The musician also opened up about his relationship with Sheeran, 35, revealing that the pair had known each other for 13 years and describing the British star as a 'brother', while making clear that their friendship had not changed his political position.

"As I told Ed multiple times on the phone, our friendship can’t change my responsibility to tell the truth about what happened," he wrote.

According to Macklemore, the decision to remove him followed a week of 'difficult conversations' with the 'Shape of You' singer.

He claimed that Robert Kraft, the owner of the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium, had contacted Sheeran and that venues were unwilling to host the tour with Macklemore still on the bill.

Macklemore said this left Sheeran in what he described as a 'f****d up position'.

He also claimed Sheeran told him that the words "Free Palestine" and an image of the Palestinian flag had been hurtful to people he had spoken to.

Macklemore said he responded by pointing to the scale of Palestinian suffering, writing that if those words were considered more offensive than the deaths of Palestinian children, 'there was a fundamental disconnect between where those people stood and where I stood'.

He also took issue with what he described as Sheeran's reluctance to take a public position.

"But he couldn't get past his public facing, 'I don't take sides'," Macklemore wrote, before questioning why his political speech had become an issue now, saying he had been making similar statements at concerts for almost three 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?"

He answered that he was now performing alongside 'one of the biggest artists in the world' at some of the biggest stadiums in America.

'My message is for peace'

At his second MetLife performance, Macklemore had already told Jewish members of the audience that his criticism of Israel and opposition to 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 said.

Pink has similarly maintained that she was not calling for Macklemore to be silenced or removed from the tour.

In her follow-up statement, she told her fans that Palestinians 'deserve a future that honours their humanity and their aspirations', while reiterating that she does not speak for Israel or any government.

The 'What About Us' star said her objection centred on the atmosphere she experienced at the MetLife show, particularly after Macklemore addressed Jewish people in the audience.

"You don't get to decide that for us," Pink wrote of his assertion that his message was not directed at Jewish concertgoers.

Macklemore, however, has remained unequivocal about why he believes speaking out was necessary.

Tyla contacted Ed Sheeran's representatives for comment.