Israeli-American Council calls for Macklemore's removal from Ed Sheeran's tour
Israeli-American CouncilInstitutional petition by an Israeli-American advocacy organization
The IAC condemned Macklemore’s use of Sheeran’s concert platform and sought his removal.
Responding to
An opening act should not use a headliner’s global concert platform to advance a one-sided political agenda without accountability and clear boundaries.
“This was an Ed Sheeran concert—not a political rally, not a protest, and not an activist event.”
Official statement
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
Official statement
About this source
Public petition requesting Macklemore’s removal, disclosure of advance approval, and boundaries on political messaging during the tour.
Before the quotation
The petition describes Macklemore’s words, projected imagery, and performance of “Hind’s Hall” during the MetLife shows.
After the quotation
It asks whether the content was approved in advance and demands clearer boundaries for political messaging on the tour.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The petition directly rejects the appropriateness of the performance and requests concrete remedial action.
- Recorded on
- Published here
- People and groups discussed
- Macklemore, Ed Sheeran
More from this case
Read the full caseMacklemore says the "billionaire class" should not decide "which voices are allowed on stage"
“What happened to me is bigger than one artist or one stage. When the billionaire class can decide which voices are allowed on stage and which ones are too dangerous to hear, everyone should be paying attention. So we're going on tour. All proceeds will benefit organizations supporting the Palestinian people and movement.”Read statement
Jewish Voice for Peace says the backlash to Macklemore's removal shows support for pro-Palestine speech
Jewish Voice for Peace
“Two years into Trump’s crackdown on pro-Palestine organizing, the backlash against Sheeran shows how little patience Americans have for attacks on pro-Palestine speech. It also demonstrates the shift toward support for Palestinian rights among everyday Americans that our movements have helped propel.”Read statement
Macklemore announces "Free Palestine Tour" after removal from U.S. dates
“To push back when the call for a Free Palestine is met with attempts to silence it.”Read statement
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- The Dispute Index
- Title
- Israeli-American Council calls for Macklemore's removal from Ed Sheeran's tour
- First published
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- https://disputeindex.com/events/160-the-iac-condemned-macklemore-s-use-of-sheeran
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The Dispute Index. "Israeli-American Council calls for Macklemore's removal from Ed Sheeran's tour". First published: 2026-09-09. Last updated: 2026-09-30. https://disputeindex.com/events/160-the-iac-condemned-macklemore-s-use-of-sheeran