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'Free Palestine' chant dropped Macklemore from Ed Sheeran tour

Published : Friday, 18 September, 2026 at 7:56 PM

Observer Online Report

US rapper Macklemore kicked out of Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour after chanting "Free Palestine" on stage.

Macklemore, 43, real name Benjamin Haggerty, was opening for Sheeran at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey on Sept 4-5. Wearing keffiyeh, he told 80,000 fans:

"A big part of why I wanted to do this tour is so I could stand up in stadiums and say two words dear to my heart: Free Palestine. I want people in Gaza and occupied West Bank to know we have not forgotten them."

He then performed protest anthem "Hind's Hall" — named after Hind Rajab, 5-year-old Palestinian girl killed by Israeli fire. Gaza footage rolled on big screen.

Jewish groups and Israeli-American Council filed petition: "Keep Loop Tour about music, not propaganda." Singer Pink backed removal.

Promoter Messina Touring Group confirmed Monday: "Venues said they will not allow concert with Macklemore on lineup. Would cancel tour for hundreds of thousands fans."

Macklemore says order came from Patriots owner Robert Kraft, owner of Gillette Stadium. Kraft rallied other stadium owners and gave Sheeran ultimatum: him or us. Kraft called it "hate speech."

Macklemore wrote on Instagram: "Sheeran told me words 'Free Palestine' hurt many people. I told him if those words are more offensive than tens of thousands Palestinian children killed, there is fundamental disconnect."

-AAH

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Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury

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