Anti-Defamation League calls Macklemore's Free Palestine set hateful
Anti-Defamation LeagueInstitutional statement by an antisemitism advocacy organization
The ADL condemned the set as biased and hateful anti-Israel activism that made some attendees feel unwelcome.
Responding to
Macklemore’s set subjected Sheeran’s audience to performative, biased, and hostile anti-Israel activism.
“They came for a concert, not performative, biased and hateful anti-Israel “activism” from his opener, Macklemore.”
Original post
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
Original post
About this source
First-party ADL post characterizing the performance and describing its perceived effect on Jewish and Israeli concertgoers.
Reporting
About this source
Reporting that preserves attributed statements from the IAC, ADL, and StopAntisemitism, including text from their posts.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
The ADL framed the audience as having expected a concert rather than political advocacy from the opening act.
After the quotation
It connected the performance to what it described as Macklemore’s longer record of demonizing Israel and engaging in antisemitic rhetoric.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The statement directly rejects the performance’s content and its use of the concert setting.
- Recorded on
- Published here
- People and groups discussed
- Macklemore
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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- Anti-Defamation League calls Macklemore's Free Palestine set hateful
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The Dispute Index. "Anti-Defamation League calls Macklemore's Free Palestine set hateful". First published: 2026-09-09. Last updated: 2026-09-30. https://disputeindex.com/events/161-the-adl-condemned-the-set-as-biased-and