00:00Macklemore has announced a new overseas tour in support of Palestinian liberation, following
00:05his recent controversy with Ed Sheeran. The rapper announced that he and special guests
00:09will hit Dublin on October 26, Paris on October 29, and London on October 30. Macklemore,
00:16whose real name is Benjamin Haggerty, said dates for the shows in the United States along
00:20with additional artist announcements will be revealed soon. The 43-year-old said recent
00:24events have shown him that something has shifted over the past three years, pointing to what
00:28he described as a collective awakening around Palestinian liberation and the power of billionaires
00:34to censor artists. He also appeared to take aim at Sheeran, who has attempted to address the
00:39war in Gaza while maintaining a neutral position. During a September 19 show, Sheeran called the
00:44October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attacks in Israel horrific and said the Israel Defense Forces' actions
00:51in Gaza are catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate. Macklemore wrote,
00:56It's 2026. Being apolitical during a genocide doesn't work anymore. He said,
01:02People are asking artists to show up, educate themselves, and use their platforms for more
01:06than entertainment, particularly when calls for a free Palestine are met with attempts
01:10to silence them. Macklemore also said the controversy was bigger than one artist or one stage, arguing
01:16that people should pay attention when billionaires can influence which voices are allowed on stage.
01:21The rapper said that after his schedule freed up a bit, he began reaching out to artists,
01:25who have publicly supported the Palestinian people. He acknowledged that the tour came together
01:29quickly, so some schedules and details are still being worked out. Macklemore concluded by announcing
01:34that all proceeds from the tour will benefit organizations supporting the Palestinian people
01:39and movement. The announcement comes more than a week after Macklemore was dropped from Sheeran's
01:43loop tour, following his on-stage remarks about Palestine and Gaza. Sheeran's other openers,
01:49including Phineas, Lucas Graham, Aaron Rowe, and Bioga, also dropped out in solidarity with
01:54Macklemore. Meanwhile, fans demanded refunds from Ticketmaster, and Sheeran lost nearly 500,000
02:00Instagram followers amid the fallout. Days after Macklemore's removal, Sheeran returned to the stage
02:05without any opening acts or a B stage, later saying during his Philadelphia concert that
02:11he had been abandoned by his friends and family over the situation.
