Rashida Tlaib says she stopped respecting Ed Sheeran over Macklemore’s removal
U.S. representative for Michigan’s 12th Congressional District, speaking to TMZ
“Folks have platforms and use their positions to express their feelings around human rights, around protecting people, but it seems there’s always an exception when it comes to Palestinian lives.” … “It’s unfortunate because he said he doesn’t want to take sides, but he did on Ukraine. ‘I’m for human rights,’ except for Palestinians. … There’s always an exception for Palestinian people, as if we’re disposable.” … “I stopped respecting him.”
Source and context
Interview
About this source
TMZ’s own doorstep interview with Rep. Tlaib, published as video with a written summary. The video is the primary record; the article paraphrases rather than transcribing most of her answers. TMZ adds that Gillette Stadium is among the few privately financed NFL stadiums, which bears on her description of “publicly funded stadiums.”
Reporting
About this source
AllHipHop transcribes Rep. Tlaib’s answers from the TMZ video at greater length than TMZ’s own write-up, and is the source of the verbatim wording recorded here.
Before the quotation
TMZ approached Tlaib on September 15, the day Sheeran said the removal had been the promoter’s decision. Macklemore had alleged that Robert Kraft organised pressure against him.
After the quotation
Tlaib also said “these billionaires that own these stadiums, which are publicly funded stadiums, are trying to breach someone’s First Amendment right,” and said Kraft and others “should actually be investigated for being tied to Epstein.” Both are her assertions and are not established findings. TMZ notes in the same article that Gillette Stadium is among the few privately financed NFL stadiums, which conflicts with her description of publicly funded 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 MetLife speech and his removal, Tlaib defends the speech and condemns the removal, framing it as the suppression of advocacy for Palestinians. She goes beyond criticising the outcome to endorse the stand Macklemore took, and names Sheeran and Kraft as responsible.
- Recorded on
- Published here
- People and groups discussed
- Macklemore, Ed Sheeran

Macklemore’s “Free Palestine” speech and removal from Ed Sheeran’s U.S. tour
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