Macklemore is defending his recent onstage advocacy for Palestinian rights, stating that his political messaging is not an attack on the Jewish community. The rapper’s clarification follows a series of performances as the opening act for Ed Sheeran’s “Loop” tour at MetLife Stadium on September 4 and 5, 2026.
During his set, Macklemore performed “Hind’s Hall,” a 2024 protest track dedicated to the pro-Palestinian movement, and led the audience in chants of “Free Palestine.” The performance prompted immediate calls for his removal from the remainder of the tour. On September 7, Macklemore took to Instagram to address the backlash directly, specifically reaching out to his “Jewish brothers and sisters” to distinguish his political stance from religious or ethnic prejudice.
Petition and Industry Backlash
The Israeli-American Council launched an official petition on September 6, 2026, urging tour organizers to drop Macklemore from the nine remaining concert dates. The group cited the rapper’s rhetoric as divisive and inappropriate for a mainstream pop environment.
The controversy has also seen a rare public divide among fellow high-profile artists. Musician P!nk reportedly re-shared a post from the group StopAntisemitism, which characterized Macklemore’s MetLife set as “anti-Israel propaganda.” Additionally, Boy George criticized both Macklemore and Ed Sheeran on social media, utilizing an AI-generated image with the text “Wkack Mack No More” to signal his disapproval of the tour pairing.
“Peace, Love, and Equality”
In his defense, Macklemore maintained that his message is rooted in a desire for “peace, love, and for all human beings to be treated with dignity, respect, and equality.” He argued that criticism of the Israeli government and its policies should not be conflated with antisemitism, stating that his words were “in no way a criticism” of the Jewish people as a whole.
Despite the current petition and social media criticism from industry peers, organizers for the “Loop” tour have not yet confirmed any changes to the lineup. The tour is currently scheduled to conclude in November 2026 in Tampa, Florida.
