Bill Maher calls Macklemore’s claim that Gaza is a genocide “a lie” on Real Time and says Robert Kraft was “understandably offended”
Bill MaherComedian and host of HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher, speaking on the September 18 episode
On the September 18 episode of HBO’s Real Time, Bill Maher said that Ed Sheeran let Macklemore be his opening act and that Macklemore “goes out there and repeats lies about how Gaza is a genocide,” adding, “Not that they care, but that’s a lie.” Maher said Robert Kraft, who owns the stadium where the concert was to take place, “was understandably offended” and said, “You can’t play my stadium.” He also joked about a costume Macklemore wore in 2014, which the reports describe as a dark wig, beard and fake nose.
“So, Ed Sheeran let Macklemore be his opening act on his tour. And when I say, ‘act,’ he goes out there and repeats lies about how Gaza is a genocide.” … “Not that they care, but that’s a lie.” … “He was understandably offended by this and said, ‘You can’t play my stadium.’”
Reporting
Reporting
Where this statement fits
Macklemore’s “Free Palestine” speech and removal from Ed Sheeran’s U.S. tour
At two Ed Sheeran concerts at MetLife Stadium, Macklemore called for a free Palestine, accused Israel of apartheid and genocide, and said criticism of Israel was not criticism of Jewish people. After venue objections, tour promoter Messina Touring Group said he would not perform the remaining U.S. Loop Tour dates. Critics characterized the performance as hostile or inappropriate; Macklemore defended it as a call for equal treatment.
Source and context
Reporting
About this source
Fox News Digital’s report, published at 12:16 p.m. EDT on September 19, 2026, on Bill Maher’s remarks about Macklemore, Ed Sheeran and Robert Kraft on the September 18 episode of HBO’s Real Time. It quotes Maher directly. We could not locate a recording of the broadcast.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Reporting
About this source
The National News Desk’s report, published on September 19, 2026, on the same remarks from the September 18 episode of HBO’s Real Time. It quotes Maher directly on Macklemore’s genocide claim, and reports that he said Robert Kraft was “understandably offended.” It is independent of the Fox News Digital report. We could not locate a recording of the broadcast.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
Fox News Digital and The National News Desk reported that Maher first joked about a costume Macklemore wore in 2014, which they describe as a dark wig, beard and fake nose, and then said that Ed Sheeran let Macklemore be his opening act. Macklemore had been dropped from Sheeran’s Loop Tour days earlier.
After the quotation
Maher went on to say that “Macklemore’s fans hate Ed Sheeran” and that “Ed Sheeran needs a new opening act.” Later in the show, Fox News Digital reported, he criticized musicians who use concerts to promote political causes, saying “It’s so arrogant on both their sides.” We could not locate a recording of the broadcast, so the wording above rests on the Fox News Digital and National News Desk reports.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
Maher calls Macklemore’s claim that Gaza is a genocide “a lie” and says Macklemore “repeats lies” on stage, which rejects the substance of the speech. He also says Kraft was “understandably offended” by it, which describes Kraft’s reaction as understandable without stating an opinion on whether the removal was justified. The closest competing label is “Mixed or conditional”, because Maher does not address the removal itself; it loses because his only evaluation of the speech is a rejection, and the Kraft remark reports Kraft’s reaction rather than taking a position that cuts the other way.
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The Dispute Index. "Bill Maher calls Macklemore’s claim that Gaza is a genocide “a lie” on Real Time and says Robert Kraft was “understandably offended”". First published: 2026-09-20. Last updated: 2026-09-22. https://disputeindex.com/events/1274-on-the-september-18-episode-of-hbo-s