Garbage calls Macklemore’s removal “sheer madness”
Rock band, posting in its own name
“This is madness. Sheer madness.” … “Macklemore’s words were not antisemitic. Yet he is being punished for simple pleading for the occupation, the oppression and the violence to stop.”
Source and context
Reporting
About this source
Billboard collects reactions to Macklemore’s removal and quotes the Instagram statements of Garbage and MUNA and Kehlani’s comment beneath Macklemore’s own post. The original posts were not retrieved directly.
Reporting
About this source
Dork independently reports and quotes the same reactions from MUNA, Kehlani and Garbage, published 15 September 2026.
Reporting
About this source
Rolling Stone Philippines reports the reactions of Greta Thunberg, Ms. Rachel and Garbage, and carries an extended version of Robert Kraft’s statement.
Before the quotation
The band shared a screenshot of a Rolling Stone headline reporting Macklemore’s removal.
After the quotation
Rolling Stone Philippines also reports the band asking “Whatever happened to free speech?” The claim that the words were not antisemitic is the band’s own characterisation and is contested by other speakers in this case.
How this statement is classified
Case context: Macklemore’s “Free Palestine” speech and removal from Ed Sheeran’s U.S. tour
The label describes this statement’s response within the context above.
Why this label?
Relative to Macklemore’s MetLife speech and his removal, Garbage defends the speech directly, rejecting the antisemitism characterisation and describing the punishment as unjust. The band states this in its own name rather than resharing another party’s view.
- Recorded on
- Published here
- People and groups discussed
- Macklemore
Macklemore’s “Free Palestine” speech and removal from Ed Sheeran’s U.S. tour
Explore the case context, sources and public responses.
More from this case
Read the full case“Glad to see Macklemore off Ed Sheeran’s tour. For years, Macklemore has pushed antisemitic tropes and demonized Israel and Israelis. Now he certainly has the 1A right to speak out and express his views, but demonizing Jews and Israelis shouldn’t be rewarded.”Read statement
“When your only response to dissent is to use power and wealth to make it go away, you are going to have the opposite effect. People can see what’s happening in the Middle East with their eyes and don’t want to be told what they’re allowed to think by people who own stadiums.”Read statement
“So proud of Aaron. A brave and selfless act to stand with Palestine & humanity against Israel’s barbarism and the billionaires that support their crimes. Aaron you have upheld Ireland’s noble tradition of resistance to colonialism & Empire. So proud!”Read statement