Elan Carr: 'Free Palestine' is an antisemitic statement
Chief executive, Israeli-American Council
“Free Palestine [is an antisemitic statement]... freedom of speech doesn't give the rapper the right to hijack a stage.”
Source and context
Original post
About this source
BBC Radio 4 Today clip of Elan Carr interviewed by Justin Webb, calling Free Palestine an antisemitic statement and saying free speech does not give Macklemore the right to hijack a stage.
Before the quotation
Interviewed by Justin Webb on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, aired September 16, 2026.
After the quotation
Carr led the Israeli-American Council's earlier Sept 6 organizational call for Macklemore's removal from the tour.
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?
Carr directly characterizes the Free Palestine statement itself as antisemitic and denies Macklemore had the right to use the stage for it, an express condemnation, going further than the IAC's earlier Sept 6 organizational statement in naming the phrase itself antisemitic.
- 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
Lukas Graham
“Money doesn't give you the right to own the conversation... Nobody's bank balance should decide who gets to speak.”Read statement
“Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed.”Read statement