Massive Attack: "No artist should tolerate the censorship of another artist"
Massive AttackBand
Massive Attack said no artist should tolerate the censorship of another artist and stood in solidarity with artists risking their careers for Palestinian rights.
“No artist should tolerate the censorship of another artist, however many millions of dollars are in play.”
Reporting
Where this statement fits
Macklemore’s “Free Palestine” speech and removal from Ed Sheeran’s U.S. tour
At two Ed Sheeran concerts at MetLife Stadium, Macklemore called for a free Palestine, accused Israel of apartheid and genocide, and said criticism of Israel was not criticism of Jewish people. After venue objections, tour promoter Messina Touring Group said he would not perform the remaining U.S. Loop Tour dates. Critics characterized the performance as hostile or inappropriate; Macklemore defended it as a call for equal treatment.
Source and context
Reporting
About this source
NME report quoting Massive Attack's Instagram statement on the Macklemore-Sheeran tour fallout, corroborated by Rolling Stone, Hotpress, Consequence, and HuffPost.
Before the quotation
Posted to Instagram on September 16, 2026, amid a wider wave of artists (including Roger Waters and Garbage) criticizing Sheeran's handling of Macklemore's removal.
After the quotation
The band also said the 'arc of state, corporate and media silence that allowed a genocide to take place seeks to coerce high profile artists and actors into that silence,' and stated they 'stand in solidarity with all artists risking their careers in defence of the rights of the Palestinian people.'
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
On Macklemore's conduct in giving the speech, Massive Attack explicitly backs Macklemore and frames his removal as censorship coerced by money, defending his conduct as not warranting the response it received.
- Recorded on
- Published here
- People and groups discussed
- Ed Sheeran
More from this case
Read the full caseMacklemore says the "billionaire class" should not decide "which voices are allowed on stage"
“What happened to me is bigger than one artist or one stage. When the billionaire class can decide which voices are allowed on stage and which ones are too dangerous to hear, everyone should be paying attention. So we're going on tour. All proceeds will benefit organizations supporting the Palestinian people and movement.”Read statement
Jewish Voice for Peace says the backlash to Macklemore's removal shows support for pro-Palestine speech
Jewish Voice for Peace
“Two years into Trump’s crackdown on pro-Palestine organizing, the backlash against Sheeran shows how little patience Americans have for attacks on pro-Palestine speech. It also demonstrates the shift toward support for Palestinian rights among everyday Americans that our movements have helped propel.”Read statement
Macklemore announces "Free Palestine Tour" after removal from U.S. dates
“To push back when the call for a Free Palestine is met with attempts to silence it.”Read statement
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The Dispute Index. "Massive Attack: "No artist should tolerate the censorship of another artist"". First published: 2026-09-17. Last updated: 2026-09-22. https://disputeindex.com/events/965-massive-attack-said-no-artist-should-tolerate-the