MUNA calls the move to remove Macklemore an attempt to silence free speech
Pop band, posting in its own name
“Everyone involved in the move to silence free speech about a genocide is utterly pathetic.” … “Solidarity with @macklemore.”
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.
Before the quotation
The band reposted Rolling Stone’s Instagram coverage of the removal.
After the quotation
The genocide characterisation is the band’s own. MUNA does not name the promoter or the venues.
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 speech and removal, MUNA frames the removal as silencing and states solidarity with him by name, which defends the speech rather than commenting only on the tour.
- 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