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.
Read the original post (opens in a new tab)Elan Carr on BBC Radio 4 Today

Source and context

Original post

Elan Carr on BBC Radio 4 Today (opens in a new tab)

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

Condemned

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
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People and groups discussed
Macklemore

More from this case

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Jonathan Greenblatt

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

Finneas

Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed.
Read statement