The Dispute Index

Macklemore

Portrait of Macklemore

American rapper and songwriter

X (opens in a new tab)Instagram (opens in a new tab)

What DI has documented

DI has documented statements by Macklemore on Antisemitism, Israel, and Music, among other topics. Read the quotations, original sources and related cases below.

Topics in this coverage

Statements by Macklemore

Portrait of Macklemore

Macklemore

Role at the time: Musician, in a post on X

Defended or excused

Statement summary

Macklemore, announcing the Free Palestine Tour, said that what happened to him is "bigger than one artist or one stage" and that "everyone should be paying attention" when the "billionaire class" decides 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 the original post (opens in a new tab)Macklemore announces the Free Palestine Tour · MacklemoreFull X post with attached tour poster, published September 24, 2026 at 2:16 p.m. UTC
Why we used this label

Relative to the confrontation over Macklemore's Free Palestine remarks and his removal from the Loop Tour, Macklemore defends his advocacy: he frames his removal as the "billionaire class" deciding who may be heard and announces a tour to continue the message, with proceeds going to Palestinian causes. It is consistent in direction with his earlier statements defending his message, but moves from his September 14 statement about the removal to a broader claim about who controls access to stages.

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

Macklemore

Role at the time: Musician and subject of the case

Defended or excused

Statement summary

In an Instagram post, Macklemore announced a "Free Palestine Tour" and wrote that artists should "push back" when the call for a free Palestine is met with attempts to silence it. He said proceeds would benefit organizations supporting Palestinians and the movement.

“To push back when the call for a Free Palestine is met with attempts to silence it.”
Read the original post (opens in a new tab)Macklemore announces "Free Palestine Tour"Instagram post DdrDI-tt1sY, caption paragraphs beginning "If these last couple of weeks..." and "FREE PALESTINE TOUR."
Why we used this label

The case concerns Macklemore's Free Palestine speech at Ed Sheeran concerts and the resulting removal from the remaining U.S. tour dates. Macklemore says artists should use their stages to call for a free Palestine and resist efforts to silence that call. This defends the advocacy under scrutiny rather than only disputing its description.

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

Macklemore

Role at the time: Musician; central figure in this dispute

Defended or excused

Statement summary

Macklemore pledged $1 million — the entirety of his net earnings from Ed Sheeran's tour — to six organizations supporting Palestinians, and invited Robert Kraft to match the donation.

“With everything that has happened over the last 48 hours, I want to bring the conversation back to where it belongs: to the Palestinian people who are still being killed, still living under military occupation, and still fighting for their freedom. I will be donating the entire $1 million of my net earnings from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour to six organizations working directly to support the Palestinian people. And I invite Robert Kraft to match my donation. Whatever we disagree about, perhaps we can agree on this: Palestinian lives are worth protecting. A Palestinian life is no less valuable than any other life on this earth.”
Read the original post (opens in a new tab)Macklemore’s September 16 Instagram post pledging $1 million and naming six organizationsCarousel slide 1 carries the statement; the post caption names the six recipient accounts: @thepcrf, @heal.palestine, @gazasoupkitchen, @medicalaidpal, @unrwausa, @aneraorg.
Why we used this label

Macklemore reframes the dispute around a shared concern for Palestinian lives and commits his tour earnings to Palestinian relief organizations, extending and defending his original pro-Palestinian advocacy rather than retracting or moderating it.

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

Macklemore

Role at the time: Musician and former support act on Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour

Defended or excused

Response to this claim

Ed Sheeran and his team decided to remove Macklemore from the remaining Loop Tour support dates.

“Ed Sheeran and his team have made the decision to remove me from The Loop tour. I do not agree with the decision. But I understand it. I am not a victim. Ed Sheeran is not a victim. Palestinian people are victims.”
Read the original post (opens in a new tab)Macklemore’s September 14 statement about removal from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour · MacklemoreInstagram carousel post, slides 1–4; statement says Ed Sheeran and his team removed him from The Loop Tour and explains his reaction.
Why we used this label

The statement expressly combines disagreement with understanding of the decision. The classification reflects that qualified response and does not decide who made the removal decision.

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

Macklemore

Role at the time: Recording artist and opening act on Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour

Challenged the characterization

Response to this claim

Macklemore’s MetLife message was a demand for Palestinian freedom and equal human dignity, not criticism of Jewish people.

“Criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide in no way is a criticism of you.”
Read the original post (opens in a new tab)Macklemore’s complete MetLife speech and response
Why we used this label

The statement directly disputes a central characterization while maintaining the underlying criticism of Israel.

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

A participant is a subject of the case. A speaker has a statement documented in it. A commentator has an opinion or editorial documented in it.