Rapper Macklemore is a vocal supporter of Palestine and Gaza residents. During a recent concert at MetLife Stadium, he yelled “Free Palestine!” onstage, projected images of devastation in the area, and performed protest song “Hind’s Hall.”
Now, it seems that American venues are not willing to play ball with the Seattle artist, and he has been dropped from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour.
“After discussions with stakeholders, Macklemore will not be performing on the remaining support dates,” according to Messina Touring Group, the promoter of Loop Tour. This news follows backlash from organizations like StopAntisemitism and others, such as pop star Pink.
I’ve seen AJR in tour twice. Once in 2022 when they did their OK Orchestra Tour. There’s a song in there called “3 O’clock Things”. The lyrics at the end of the song are:
Isn’t this obvious, am I insane? Let’s blame our parents ‘cause they taught us their ways Stay out of politics, stay on the fence Stay out of all of it to keep half your fans Isn’t this obvious, am I insane? There might be two side to everything that you say It’s all a bit cloudy, but there’s one thing I know That if you’re fucking racist then don’t come to my show.
Then a breakdown and everyone in the crowd screamed that line.
AJR is definitely not as big as Ed Sheeran, but they have been very open about supporting the left, performing at Joe Biden’s inauguration and refusing to go to Trump’s. I wish more artists had a backbone. It’s not like you’re going to be poor and broke. They have all the leverage. It would be so easy for them to make a change.
Macklemore made a banger about being thrifty.
He’s good folk, it turns out.
Speaking up for Palestine isn’t antisemitism.
Saying that Israel is a genocidal country isn’t antisemitism either.
TIL Macklemore is based
He always has been. Naturally, his one goofy song about thrifting is the one that went viral.
Even the goofy thrifting song is based as fuck. It’s a rejection of fast fashion and manufactured style in favour of joyous self-expression on a working class budget.
I know it’s just another big hit one but man I love how he just starts and doesn’t stop in “Can’t Hold Us.”
I like some of his songs about Palestine, but this guy put out songs specifically targeting Biden saying he wouldn’t vote for him.
This guy helped Trump win. Fuck Biden, but Trump is destroying the goddamn world and we don’t need idiots like this confusing people.
Edit: from Hinds Hall: “The blood is on your hands Biden, we can see it all. And fuck no, I’m not voting for you in the fall.”
wow, he is a good guy after all and not just some blue maga freak, good for him.
Your right, it’s good Trump won. Things are going so well.
Edit: Both sides are the same, right everyone?
do you know that tweet where that one guy is like, “i like waffles” and another guy replies saying “so you hate pancakes?”
i hope thats enough to say but the liberal mind is incomprehensible to me so idk.
It’s time you people stop relying on the excuse that any Biden criticism is the same as equating both sides. It’s kinda pathetic and the same type of shit that will make people less likely to vote for the Democrats as it only serves as a way to suppress criticism.
He is, but also a really corny dude to the point where he gives right wing pundits someone to point and laugh at. I know he is genuine and wants to put eyeballs on issues, however he sometimes came off performative about it which turns people off unfortunately.
Nah, fuck that. What you’re calling corny is just sincerity. Leave that irony poisoned “caring about things is cringe” bullshit to the right wing chuds.
Stokeholders?
The stakeholder has a name.
Macklemore has been dropped from Ed Sheeran’s tour after he says New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft organized a boycott among stadium owners over the rapper’s remarks in support of Palestinians.
Awful nice of the corporate media outlet to hide the name of one side while blasting the other.
Fuck Ed Sheeran and his promoters, got it. I feel it’s important that we acknowledge that the focus should be on Sheeran and his team for their cowardice in this situation, and not focus too heavily on Macklemore. What he did is the bare minimum we should expect from those in the spotlight. Being against a genocide should be so fucking basic it isn’t news, and being in support of a genocide should be so disgusting that it ruins a person’s entire reputation.
that the focus should be on Sheeran and his team for their cowardice in this situation, and not focus too heavily on Macklemore.
Why? He obviously put his career on the line and it wouldn’t be the first time. Macklemore is awesome.
because Macklemore isn’t being genocided, Palestinians are. And unless his words help move us toward stopping that, then they are masturbatory. Celebrities speaking in support of Palestine has done nothing more than spread awareness, and we are way beyond that. Anyone unaware at this point is apathetic and unreachable. What could very possibly make a difference would be fucking with Ed Sheeran’s money by shaming MFers for supporting him. I don’t care about a white rapper getting kudos for literally doing the bare minimum of being against genocide, and neither should you.
If you are not against then you are pro. Ergo, Ed Sheeran is pro-Genocide kind of person.
Black n white. Them and us. The only correct ideology - and the renegades.
These are the prominent features of the fascist ideology. 💁
Some things are black and white though.
Like rape is bad. If you meet someone’s who refuses to “take a side on the rape debate” then they’re just defacto pro rape.
Exactly. It’s so convenient to just start calling all men as rapers (because: they have penises!). Thus, all who disagree with this illogical term swap - are “siding with rapers”.
Like, before the invasion, putin has made all the official national media be spreading anti-nazi and neo-nazi campaign (presenting all ukranians as “nazi”). Thus, putin is not killing the ukranians - he is allegedly “fighting the neo-nazi”. How convenient!
The same way people who object juggling with the term “genocide” or who refuse to side with the motto “from the river to the sea” (urging to destroy Israel) are readily accused of "supporting genocide”. Also convenient!
Nah, i’m not buying this “anti-neo-colonial history revisit”. It has a simpler explanation: revanchism.
Israel should not exist. From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free. This is a chant to end the supremecist ethno-state and replace it with a state that respects all ethnicities and religions (much like existed before the zionists came to the region).
Also here’s a reminder that Israel bombed a synagogue in Tehran that is older than zionism.
You fail to understand not only the genocide (which is happening, but not as the hamass and other populists suggest). You also ignore that you replesent the core issue: the revanchism.
Would you stop putting your sick fantasies above the value of human lives, please?
Palestine, just like Teheran (the whole Iran), deserve to be free from vandals and terror fanatics in power, killing palestinians and iranians.
You are a western chauvinist to the core. The crusades failed, and zionism is failing too.
Sure, ok. Is the failing zionism in the same room with you? /s
Has it been the failing zionism in Gaza, when hamas has been killing palestinians - even in the absence of israeli?
Is it the anti-chauvenistic “measures” of ayatollahs - to hang and shoot thousands of protesting iranians (was it lately in the beginning of 2026)?
Well, I don’t think so. Barking up the wrong tree, probably.
oh there’s a fallacy for this! to make a claim so erogenous in an attempt to make the other person’s point seem objectively bad because it’s ‘connected’ to the bullshit your spewing! :D
There’s no need to make the other person’s point seem bad - if it’s objectively bad, though.Also:
the bullshit you’RE spewing!
You are welcome!
i gotta reply to this cause it’s funny
you’ve for no counter to my argument so instead you point out my mistake with the yors
… completely missing my dumbass mistaking egregious for erogenous lmao. like dude I set you up to get a really decent insult on my intelligence but you chose the other one
I’m sure your dumdass didn’t preplan for any mistakes, dumb or funny (sure it was funny, and the following phallusy is a better one) - and it would be nice to hear the real argumentation.
So Ed Sheeran is a piece of shit, eh?
According to Macklemore, Sheeran was told by venues to cut him, or cancel the whole tour. Sheeran tries to remain non-political as part of his brand. But it really feels like we’re up against the sad point where, if just saying “don’t genocide people” makes you “political”, then refusing to be political makes you a piece of shit.
I think a lot of artists are still riding this line between staying safe and potentially nuking their entire career. I won’t act like that’s an easy decision for anyone to make, but obviously looking from the outside it’s easy to see what the right decision is.
Time will tell. There’s still time for Ed to walk out on stage at his biggest show of the tour, throw a fist in the air, and say Free Palestine. I’ve had zero thoughts about him up until this point, but that would at least give me one shred of respect for him.
Sheeran tries to remain non-political as part of his brand.
Yeah that’s bullshit. And there’s no such thing as being “neutral”, you’re just choosing the side of the oppressor.
“American Venues”
Not sure who’s calling the shots here
EDIT:
The rapper alleges that Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft gave Sheeran an ultimatum.
Nothing says “good guy” like compromising your principles for money, right? tf is your argument here?
It’s likely not up to him as he has contractual obligations that could ruin more than just his own livelihood.
The whole system is fucked. Rotten to the core
EDIT: these replies are peak left self harm.
Macklemore: free Palestine
NFL Stadium Owners: drop Macklemore or we’ll cancel your show
label and tour management: we can’t lose all these venues, so Macklemore has to go
Lemmy community: how could Ed Sheeran do this??
Like, how about we point our anger at the people actually causing the problem, instead of the guy trying to salvage his tour in a no-win situation because of racist fucks
Ed Sheeran has an estimated net worth of around $350 million to $400 million
Won’t somebody think of the millionaires? His whole livelihood is at stake here!
And it’s not like his livelihood is even at massive risk - he’s a big enough name that any arena worth his time to perform at will be big enough that there won’t be other acts available that will sell enough seats at short notice, so they’re pretty likely to cave if he puts his foot down.
I don’t really care about him, but this line of thinking creates assumptions and expectations that are almost never going to be met. He is one of the wealthiest musicians, he isn’t just a performer, he is a businessman. If he was willing to risk or limit the success of his brand for his views (assuming his views are pro palestine), he probably wouldn’t be in the position he is in.
At the end of the day, it is a mainly systemic issue, not an issue of moral failiure. Some individuals will push against the systemic currents, but this will always be the exception, not the rule.
The only way to combat systemic issue is by changing/replacing the system through collective action, not individual action. Ed Sheeran chancling his tour in solidarity with Palestine would not stop western nations from supporting israel. The only way is a nations citizens collectively applying pressure.
If becoming one of the world’s wealthiest musicians requires prioritisation of your brand over improving the world in ways you absolutely have the power to do, then becoming a wealthy musician is absolutely a sign of moral failure. It’s also not even necessarily detrimental to the brand to associate it with acting morally - that only made Dolly Parton more beloved.
If Robert Kraft and the other stadium owners break tour contracts over a “we don’t like your opener” thing after they already signed, it’ll be huge fees and possibly a lawsuit. Ed Sheeran had leverage here and he didn’t use it.
His record label had the leverage and chose not to use it. There’s very little say the artists themselves actually have in these kinds of things.
The articles made it seem like the venues forced Sheeran to drop macklemore. Sheeran may not have had a say.
It seems like it’s the venues that won’t let Mackelmore play.
Now, it seems that American venues are not willing to play ball with the Seattle artist, and he has been dropped from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour.
…
“After discussions with stakeholders, Macklemore will not be performing on the remaining support dates,”
From the tour promoters.
Robert Kraft is the piece of shit here
a piece of shit for ditching a racist?
oh you’re ok with the racist i get it
Noice!
If Pink’s reply (which seems thoughtful and balanced) is to be believed, it’s not due to support of Palestine as much as trotting out grotesque antisemitic caricatures and blaming all Jews for the Gaza genocide.
I watched the video of Macklemore, and he makes it crystal clear that criticism of apartheid and Israel is not criticism of judeism.
From the article:
Macklemore took time to rebuke critics who may dub him antisemitic, declaring to Jewish audience members at the concert after his initial “Free Palestine!” exclamation that “Criticism of Israel [and] being against genocide in no way is a criticism of you.”
“Blaming all Jews,” riiiiight.
“Criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide in no way is a criticism of you” - Macklemore’s statement to his Jewish fans. Doesn’t really sound like he’s “blaming all Jews”, at all.
Pink is succesfully minimizing and normalizing actual antisemitism with this garbage.
Which is why there are pics of these caricatures and recordings of his “blaming all jews”.
Right?
Here’s a picture of the caricature
This was back in 2014 and the ADL accepted his apology for it. So he’s at least had antisemitic moments. Does that mean he’s blaming all Jews for the genocide? No.
The costume he put on with absolutely no other jewish or jewish adjacent context or even a little history of anti-semitism?
The one where after he wore it once, he was told by a bunch of jews ‘hey that’s a jew costume! Stop making fun of us!’ To which he responded, ’ Oh, shit, I never saw it like that. I can see where you could get that now. I’m sorry." Then he promoted the ADL, never wore it again, and never did anything “anti-semitic” again for over a decade? That is, until this “anti-Semitism” of saying ‘israel should stop genociding people’?
That incident? That’s the photo you’re providing as proof?
It’s a pretty reasonable look at the context…
Yes, that is the image I found when I searched “Macklemore Jewish Caricature”. You aggressively asked for pictures of said caricature. I gave you a picture and provided the context that the ADL accepted his apology and I pointed out that it doesn’t mean he blames all Jews for the genocide.
Why are you mad?
I mean it’s pretty clearly irrelevant to the current topic
It’s actually directly relevant and I think Glytch is catching OP’s strays - by showing exactly what dozenyear old “scandal” the troll OP is referencing. I think everyone thought Glytch was trying to prove Mr ‘lemore is a current antisemite.
Everyone is on edge. Unrelatedly, grace is a really lovely concept that is truly humanist; the golden rule in action.
Thank you for keeping a level head. You evaluation of my intent is entirely correct.
I don’t think that person was mad, I think they were pointing out why they think it’s not illustrative of Mackelmore being antisemitic.
Yep Ed should have cancelled the rest of the tour. No need to worry about all the lower paid people in the entourage who would suddenly be out of work. No need to worry about the fans that bought tickets and made travel arrangements that will be out money for the cancellation. I feel he was probably put in no win situation and all the people ragging on him now would be ragging on him if he had cancelled as well.
Well all of the openers and his backing band have all dropped out of the tour.
He’s a very large artist, it’s not like he doesn’t have any sway. If he really dug his heels in, do you think the venues would follow through on cancelling? And if they did, do you think people would be more upset with him for standing up for a good cause, or with the venues for cancelling his shows just because they disagree with something someone he is touring with said, that is broadly popular and blatantly not antisemitic?
Ed’s a real twink
Well macklemore is straight up an antisemite. Here he is performing in a “Jewish” costume.
Thanks for enlightening me with the photo.
So I still believe you can support human rights and not be an antisemite and be critical of human rights abuses of Gazans, but this is the sort of joke an antisemite might make. The again, he apologized.
I really believe people should be able to accidentally make mistakes and fuck up and not get cancelled. But this does put a slightly different spin on things where I can understand why people would question things. Because it’s more than just a mild costume, it’s reminiscent of historical Nazi depictions of Jewish people.
He may have just genuinely fucked up and not realized how disrespectful that was… or maybe he is an antisemite. But it’s sort of like the Musk Hitler salute and “how could you not know what that means or how people would react?” I think Makelmore is probably a decent person based on his history and probably just massively fucked up, but I could be wrong on that, and I really wish I didn’t have to wonder.
I still think Gazans are being treated horribly and human rights violations are occurring and people shouldn’t be penalized for wanting human rights standards.
I fully agree with all of the above regarding support for human rights and the treatment of Gazans, but for me this costume + “from the river to the sea” (meaning ethnic cleansing of Israelis) are clear tells. Even if he isn’t an antisemite or he isn’t anymore, he should’ve been a smarter. Would we show the same understanding to a public figure who openly used the N-word toward someone unironically?
I understand why Ed Sheeran would drop him and I don’t think it should be particularly controversial.
Does “from the river to the sea” mean ethnic cleansing of Israelis? I didn’t know that.
My limited knowledge of the situation is Jewish people left the area due to conflict, thousands of years passed, the Holocaust happened, British somehow “negotiated” their return (under threat of violence to the then-local population) and displaced Palestinians but Palestinians had some land, it just wasn’t as much, Jewish people were attacked and then retaliated by taking more land in the 7 days war, some Palestinians were mad at Israel and tried to attack Israel with rockets and other attacks, Israel then put tremendous and horrible restrictions on all Palestinians that were unreasonable and terrible and it just existed like that (and this part of the situation I believe is greatly understated as being a main cause of this situation), Palestinians elected Hamas that wanted to kill all Jewish people, Hamas killed and kidnapped a bunch of Jewish teenagers at a rave, many of whom were having fun and probably on ecstasy when the attack happened which in some ways is more horrifying, and then also killed a bunch of Israelis in settlements, including babies, then Israel retaliated against Hamas by in theory targeting specific Hamas members but also committing a huge massive number of war crimes, many of which were documented on TikTok, and then TikTok was bought out to try to hide the war crimes and Jewish allies tried to do things like dismantle or weaken the International Criminal Court, then people who were against war crimes were fired from work and penalized for speaking out, which looked really bad for Jewish people, even Jewish people who weren’t a part of the situation.
I knew Hamas wanted to kill all Jewish people. I just didn’t know that slogan means ethnic cleansing of Jewish people. It’s hard to think in those terms when most of the dead people are Palestinians, many of whom likely weren’t political, but does it mean that? Because I’ve heard a lot of liberal and leftist types repeat that; is it actually a call for Jewish ethnic cleansing?, because that is quite scary.
This may be a post that primarily just illustrates my ignorance of geography. What river? What sea? Perhaps it seems innocuous because I don’t understand International geographical stuff, sort of like how some people from the US say Europe is a county they never want to visit. It’s interesting to me because I’m somewhat ignorant, but so are lots of people. Do most people view that slogan as a call for ethnic cleansing?
It still doesn’t mean the war crimes were okay. There was a ton of stuff just posted on TikTok, all out in the open, for months, until it was bought out and taken down.
The river is the Jordan, the sea is the Mediterranean. The area in between is Palestine + Israel. If you say “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” it sounds to me like there’s no space for Israel or Israelis.
Just the same as saying that the whole area should be Israeli.
Fuck Sheeran. Rat-faced little bitch
Fuck ed sheeran
But first the Kraft group, it’s easy to shift the anger to Ed, but you can’t force anyone to pick a side when they don’t want to get involved, He was planning his tour with cool musicians, hoping to maximize his target audience.
It shouldn’t be the case, but taking a stand in the US now makes you lose half of your pie, He invited Maclemore and was able to perform in a couple of show and now people talking about this might increase the numbers of people talking about Palestine.
The Kraft group was the one requesting for Maclemore to be excluded from the tour, and they should be answering those ‘Fuck you’
Yeah, but he didn’t answer “Fuck you” did he? He replied “Yes Sir, right away Sir.” He was “just following orders”.
Where have I heard that before.
Absolutely and He would have to face the consequences of that choice, but for each Fuck you Robert Kraft, they are like 200 Fuck you Ed Sheeran.
I’m not saying Ed should get a free pass, but people should be boycotting the Kraft Group first
