Macklemore Launches Charity Tour to Support Palestine Efforts

WHO:

NBC News - Macklemore, whose real name is Ben Haggerty, is a Grammy-winning rapper.

NBC News - Ed Sheeran is a singer whose tour Macklemore was removed from.

NBC News - Robert Kraft is the owner of the New England Patriots and was involved in the decision to remove Macklemore from Sheeran's tour.

WHAT:

NBC News - Macklemore announced that his "Free Palestine Tour" will include three performance dates in Dublin, London, and Paris next month.

Variety - The shows are scheduled for October 26 in Dublin, October 29 in Paris, and October 30 in London.

NBC News - Macklemore stated, “If these last couple of weeks have shown us anything, it’s that something has shifted over the last three years,” in reference to the current political climate.

NBC News - Macklemore's performance of "Hind’s Hall" included related images from pro-Palestinian demonstrations and the situation in Gaza.

NBC News - Sheeran faced backlash over his role in the situation, with all of his opening acts and house band dropping out of their scheduled U.S. tour dates in solidarity with Macklemore and the Palestinian people.

NBC News - Sheeran described the situation as putting him “in the middle of an important and passionate argument about freedom of speech and the most complex political issue on the planet.”

NBC News - Kraft expressed that “Much of my time and attention for the last decade has been focused on the fight against antisemitism and hate of all kinds.”

NBC News - Kraft stated he was not trying to stifle Palestinian advocacy or diminish the suffering of Palestinians, but emphasized the need for a welcoming environment for everyone.

NBC News - Macklemore claimed that U.S. venues gave Ed Sheeran an ultimatum to remove him from the tour or face show cancellations, indicating pressure from venue owners.

NBC News - The situation surrounding Macklemore, Sheeran, and Kraft made international headlines as many debated not just Macklemore’s speech regarding the Israel-Gaza war, but also the rights for artists to express their views.

NBC News - Macklemore announced that his "Free Palestine Tour" will include three performance dates in Dublin, London, and Paris next month.

NBC News - Macklemore stated, “If these last couple of weeks have shown us anything, it’s that something has shifted over the last three years,” in reference to the current political climate.

NBC News - Macklemore announced that all proceeds from the performances will benefit organizations supporting Palestinians.

NBC News - Macklemore stated, “What happened to me is bigger than one artist or one stage,” emphasizing the broader implications of his removal from the tour.

NBC News - Macklemore described the current situation as a “collective awakening around Palestinian liberation” and highlighted the expectations placed on artists to engage with political issues.

NBC News - Macklemore stated, “People are asking artists to show up, educate themselves and be in community.”

NBC News - Macklemore's tour poster indicated it would feature him “and friends.”

NBC News - Macklemore stated, “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.”

NBC News - Macklemore mentioned a “collective awakening around Palestinian liberation” and the expectations of artists.

NBC News - Macklemore's performance of "Hind’s Hall" included related images from pro-Palestinian demonstrations and the situation in Gaza.

NBC News - Kraft stated he was not trying to stifle Palestinian advocacy or diminish the suffering of Palestinians.

NBC News - Kraft expressed that “Much of my time and attention for the last decade has been focused on the fight against antisemitism and hate of all kinds.”

NBC News - Sheeran described the situation as putting him “in the middle of an important and passionate argument about freedom of speech and the most complex political issue on the planet.”

NBC News - Macklemore stated, “It’s 2026. Being apolitical during a genocide doesn’t work anymore,” emphasizing the need for artists to engage with political issues.

NBC News - Macklemore mentioned that he has been reaching out to other artists for collaboration on the tour, but no additional names have been announced yet.

NBC News - Macklemore's performance of "Hind’s Hall" included pro-Palestinian imagery and was inspired by anti-war protests at Columbia University in 2024.

NBC News - Macklemore announced the "Free Palestine Tour" after being removed from Ed Sheeran's tour.

Variety - The tour will include three shows in Dublin, Paris, and London.

NBC News - All proceeds from the performances will benefit organizations supporting Palestinians.

NBC News - Macklemore stated, “What happened to me is bigger than one artist or one stage.”

NBC News - Macklemore performed his song "Hind’s Hall" during Sheeran's tour, which included pro-Palestinian imagery.

WHERE:

Variety - The tour will take place in Dublin, Paris, and London.

NBC News - The performances are part of Ed Sheeran's tour, which included MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

WHEN:

Variety - The shows are scheduled for October 26 in Dublin, October 29 in Paris, and October 30 in London.

NBC News - The incident leading to Macklemore's removal occurred this month.

WHY:

NBC News - Macklemore claimed that U.S. venues gave Ed Sheeran an ultimatum to remove him from the tour or face show cancellations, indicating pressure from venue owners.

NBC News - Kraft stated he was not trying to stifle Palestinian advocacy or diminish the suffering of Palestinians, but emphasized the need for a welcoming environment for everyone.

NBC News - Macklemore claimed that New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft “rallied” other stadium owners after taking issue with his “Free Palestine” remarks during a show.

NBC News - Macklemore claimed that U.S. venues gave Ed Sheeran an ultimatum to remove him from the tour or face show cancellations, indicating pressure from venue owners.

NBC News - Macklemore was removed from the tour due to his pro-Palestinian remarks during performances.

NBC News - Robert Kraft and other stadium owners pressured Sheeran to remove Macklemore to avoid show cancellations.

HOW:

NBC News - Macklemore announced the tour via Instagram, stating he had reached out to other artists for collaboration, but no other names have been confirmed as of now.

NBC News - Macklemore announced the tour via Instagram, stating he had reached out to other artists for collaboration, but no other names have been confirmed.

NBC News - Macklemore announced the tour via Instagram, stating he had reached out to other artists for collaboration.

NBC News - Sheeran's promoters made the decision to drop Macklemore from the tour, not Sheeran himself.

(UPDATED September 25, 2026 09:58 UTC)

Macklemore has announced that his "Free Palestine Tour" will feature performances in Dublin, Paris, and London next month, with shows scheduled for October 26, October 29, and October 30, respectively. In light of recent events, Macklemore expressed that the political climate has shifted significantly over the past three years, while his performance of "Hind’s Hall" showcased images from pro-Palestinian demonstrations. The situation has garnered international attention, particularly as Ed Sheeran faced backlash for his involvement, leading to the withdrawal of his opening acts and house band in solidarity with Macklemore and the Palestinian cause.

(UPDATED September 24, 2026 22:59 UTC)

Macklemore has announced that his "Free Palestine Tour" will feature performances in Dublin, London, and Paris next month. He remarked that recent events highlight a significant shift in the political climate over the past three years. The shows are set for October 26 in Dublin, October 29 in Paris, and October 30 in London.

(UPDATED September 24, 2026 21:59 UTC)

Macklemore has announced that all proceeds from his upcoming performances will benefit organizations supporting Palestinians, stating, “What happened to me is bigger than one artist or one stage.” He described the current situation as a “collective awakening around Palestinian liberation” and noted the expectations placed on artists to engage with political issues. The shows are scheduled for October 26 in Dublin, October 29 in Paris, and October 30 in London, amid claims that U.S. venues pressured Ed Sheeran to remove him from the tour to avoid cancellations.

(UPDATED September 24, 2026 19:58 UTC)

Macklemore has announced a tour featuring him "and friends," with shows scheduled for October 26 in Dublin, October 29 in Paris, and October 30 in London. He emphasized the importance of artists engaging with their communities, stating, “People are asking artists to show up, educate themselves and be in community.” This announcement comes after Macklemore claimed that New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft "rallied" other stadium owners in response to his "Free Palestine" remarks during a performance.

(UPDATED September 24, 2026 17:58 UTC)

Macklemore has sparked significant conversation by stating that when the billionaire class controls which voices are heard, it's a matter everyone should pay attention to, especially in light of a growing collective awakening around Palestinian liberation. His recent performance of "Hind’s Hall" featured images from pro-Palestinian demonstrations and the ongoing situation in Gaza, which has drawn backlash against Ed Sheeran, whose opening acts and house band have dropped out of their U.S. tour dates in solidarity with Macklemore and the Palestinian people. Meanwhile, Kraft clarified that he is not trying to stifle Palestinian advocacy, emphasizing that his focus has been on combating antisemitism and hate for the past decade.

(UPDATED September 24, 2026 16:59 UTC)

Macklemore has made headlines by stating that being apolitical during a genocide is no longer acceptable, urging artists to engage with political issues. His recent performance of "Hind’s Hall" featured pro-Palestinian imagery and drew inspiration from anti-war protests at Columbia University in 2024. Additionally, Macklemore revealed that U.S. venues pressured Ed Sheeran to remove him from the tour or face cancellations, highlighting the challenges artists face in the current climate.

(UPDATED September 24, 2026 15:58 UTC)

Macklemore, the Grammy-winning rapper whose real name is Ben Haggerty, has announced a new "Free Palestine Tour" after being removed from Ed Sheeran's tour due to his pro-Palestinian remarks during performances. The tour will feature three shows in Dublin on October 26, Paris on October 29, and London on October 30, with all proceeds benefiting organizations supporting Palestinians. Macklemore expressed that “What happened to me is bigger than one artist or one stage,” highlighting the broader implications of his removal, which was influenced by pressure from Robert Kraft and other stadium owners.