Macklemore on removal from Ed Sheeran tour: 'The victims are the Palestinian people'
Macklemore has spoken out after being dropped from the remaining dates of Ed Sheeran's US tour over the rapper's pro-Palestinian remarks, saying the controversy should not distract from those suffering in Gaza. “The victims are the Palestinian people. The men, women and children who have been killed, starved, displaced and forced to live through unimaginable violence,” the Grammy-winning musician…
Macklemore, whose real name is Benjamin Haggerty, has expressed his disappointment over being removed from the remaining dates of Ed Sheeran's US tour due to his pro-Palestinian remarks. In a statement on Instagram, Macklemore emphasized that the real victims are the Palestinian people, including men, women, and children who have suffered from killings, starvation, displacement, and violence.
The Grammy-winning musician stated that he and Sheeran had "some difficult conversations" in the past week before Sheeran's team decided to remove him from the Loop Tour. The rapper was set to support Sheeran at eight of the remaining ten shows on the US stadium tour. Macklemore clarified that he is not a victim nor is Ed Sheeran, Pink, or any other individual involved in the controversy.
He reiterated that while they have careers, money, opportunities, and safety, they still get to return home to their families. The controversy arose when Macklemore performed at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on September 4 as part of Sheeran's tour. During his set, he addressed Gaza and the occupied West Bank, declaring "Free Palestine" and performing his protest song supporting Palestinians.
Macklemore also addressed Jewish members of the audience, urging them not to conflate criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism and stressing the importance of peace, love, and equality for all human beings.
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