Hollywood: American rapper Macklemore, whose real name is Ben Haggerty, announced a self headlined "Free Palestine" arena tour across Europe. The announcement follows his removal as the supporting act on Ed Sheeran’s North American tour, after he made pro Palestinian remarks and displayed war footage during live performances.
Joking on social media that his "schedule freed up a bit," the Grammy winning artist confirmed three major European arena dates scheduled this coming month: Dublin's 3Arena on October 26, Paris's Accor Arena on October 29, and London's OVO Arena Wembley on October 30. Macklemore stated that all tour proceeds will be donated to humanitarian and advocacy organisations supporting Palestinian communities in Gaza and the West Bank.
The controversy began earlier this month when tour promoter Messina Touring Group confirmed that Macklemore would no longer feature on Sheeran's remaining US tour dates. The decision came after stadium owners and corporate stakeholders expressed objections to Macklemore's onstage statements, where he urged audiences to speak out and repeatedly declared "Free Palestine."
The removal triggered a chain reaction within the live music industry, as several opening acts including Finneas and Sheeran's house band withdrew from scheduled dates in solidarity. Macklemore framed the fallout as a broader issue regarding free expression and corporate oversight in public spaces, questioning the influence of venue owners and promoters over artist platforms.
Addressing the situation during a concert in Philadelphia, Ed Sheeran clarified that the decision to drop Macklemore rested with promoters and venue stakeholders rather than himself. Expressing regret over the turmoil, Sheeran decried the humanitarian toll in Gaza as "unjustifiable" while noting the complex pressure placed on artists navigating deeply divisive global events.
Macklemore confirmed that further tour dates across the US and additional guest performers will be announced in the coming weeks as logistics are finalised, maintaining that public figures must use their platforms to speak on pressing global issues.
