Macklemore Posts His “Free Palestine” Speech Amid Petition Calling For Ed Sheeran To Drop Him From Tour Over It

Macklemore, whose real name is Benjamin Haggerty, has been using his opening act performances for Ed Sheeran's North American stadium tour to advocate for a free Palestine. During a recent show at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, footage from Gaza and the occupied West Bank was displayed on screens as he performed. He performed his song "Hind's Hall", a pro-Palestine anthem, and wore a keffiyeh while making an impassioned speech in support of Palestinians.

A pro-Israel group has launched a petition to get Macklemore removed from the tour, prompting backlash and accusations of attempting to curb free speech. According to Stereogum, some Ed Sheeran fans are now finding out about Macklemore's advocacy for an end to Israel's actions in Gaza. Rights advocates, journalists, and social media users have come out in support of Macklemore.

Macklemore's song "Hind's Hall" is named after a five-year-old girl, Hind Rajab, who was shot and killed by Israeli forces in Gaza in 2024, as reported by Middle East Eye. The speech and performance have sparked both praise and backlash, with some showing support for Macklemore's stance and others calling for him to be dropped from the tour.

Brief written by urgent.news from Stereogum, Middle East Eye — 2 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.