#SHOWBIZ: Macklemore dropped from Ed Sheeran tour after 'free Palestine' speech

LOS ANGELES - Rapper Macklemore has been removed from Ed Sheeran's US tour following his controversial remarks about supporting "free Palestine" during a recent performance in New Jersey. The singer made headlines by addressing the crowd at MetLife Stadium, expressing solidarity with the people of Gaza and the West Bank. This sparked accusations of antisemitism and led venues on the upcoming tour dates to ban Macklemore from performing, potentially canceling the entire US Loop Tour which affects hundreds of thousands of fans, according to a statement from the tour's organizer, Messina Touring Group.

Macklemore expressed his disappointment in a social media post, hoping that the decision wouldn't harm his friendship with Sheeran, whom he referred to as a "friend." He mentioned that their 13-year-long friendship shouldn't be affected by this single disagreement. However, he acknowledged that making such a statement during a politically sensitive period challenged his typical apolitical stance.

The conflict comes amidst the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict; after Hamas' attack on Israel in October 2023, which resulted in over 1,200 casualties, the Israeli military response led to more than 73,000 deaths, according to the Hamas-run health authority in Gaza, whose figures the UN considers reliable. Macklemore, known for hits like "Thrift Shop" and "Can't Hold Us," has consistently supported the Palestinian cause.

In 2024, he released the song "Hind's Hall," a tribute to a five-year-old Palestinian girl named Hind Rajab who died, sparking global outrage.