Rapper Macklemore is launching a new “Free Palestine” tour days after his removal from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour.
The Seattle-born artist, whose real name is Benjamin Haggerty, announced the tour Thursday. He said proceeds will benefit organizations supporting Palestinians.
“So, as you all know, my schedule freed up a bit,” Macklemore said while announcing the tour.
The tour will begin in Dublin on October 26. Macklemore will then perform in Paris on October 29 and London on October 30. He said US dates will be announced later.
The announcement follows Macklemore’s comments during a September performance in New Jersey. While opening for Sheeran, he expressed support for Palestinians and criticized the treatment of pro-Palestinian demonstrators.
“A big part of the reason why I wanted to do this tour in the first place is so that I could stand up in stadiums like this and say two words that are very, very dear to my heart: Free Palestine,” Macklemore said.
He later performed a song dedicated to pro-Palestinian protesters at Columbia University.
Macklemore was removed from Sheeran’s tour on September 14. Sheeran later said the decision was made by the tour’s promoter, rather than by him.
Rapper Macklemore Announces Free Palestine Tour With Friends
Several other support acts subsequently withdrew from the tour.
Macklemore addressed his departure in a statement Thursday. He said the past several weeks reflected “a collective awakening around Palestinian liberation” and raised questions about the influence of wealthy individuals on artists.
“What happened to me is bigger than one artist or one stage,” he said. “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.”
Macklemore said he spent the previous week contacting artists who have publicly supported Palestinians despite potential consequences.
“But this is a moment of momentum, and there is work to be done,” he said.
Billionaire stadium owner Robert Kraft has accused Macklemore of hate speech and antisemitic rhetoric concerning Israel and Gaza. Macklemore has continued to defend his support for Palestinians.
His new tour will make Palestinian solidarity a central theme of his upcoming performances.
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