Forgotten Rapper Doubles Down After Hijacking Ed Sheeran Concert With Islamist Propaganda

Instead of apologizing or taking a moment for self-reflection, rapper Macklemore is doubling down on his anti-Israel tirade.

The recording artist posted on social media following an avalanche of backlash over the weekend for his decision to use his opening set at an Ed Sheeran concert to push leftist political stances, including an anti-Israel rallying cry. 

“Wanting all humans to be treated equal should never be controversial,” Macklemore, whose real name is Benjamin Hammond Haggerty, wrote in the Instagram caption. His post also included a speech he gave on Saturday while opening for Ed Sheeran in New Jersey.

“Free Palestine,” Macklemore said while he was on stage. “To all of my Jewish brothers and sisters: criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide in no way is a criticism of you. My message is for peace; love for all human beings to be treated with dignity, respect, and equality,” he went on.

“So I say Free Palestine, I say Free Lebanon, I say Free Cuba, I say Free Congo, Free Sudan, I say Free all people in America living in fear of this terrorist organization, ICE. None of us will be free until we are all free,” the rapper added.

His political speech followed a Friday night show that started the backlash when Macklemore said, “A big part of the reason why I wanted to do this tour in the first place is so I could stand up in stadiums like this and say two words that are very near and dear to my heart: Free Palestine.”

He told the crowd of more than 80,000 that he wanted people in Gaza and the West Bank to know “they had not been forgotten” before leading chants of “Free Palestine.” Wearing a keffiyeh over his shoulders, he then performed his 2024 protest song, “Hind’s Hall,” while images from Gaza and pro-Palestinian campus encampments played on the stadium’s video screens.

This led to the Israeli-American Council launching a petition calling for the “Thrift Shop” rapper’s removal from the remainder of Sheeran’s “Loop Tour,” as The Daily Wire previously reported. 

“This was an Ed Sheeran concert — not a political rally, not a protest, and not an activist event,” the petition states, adding that “freedom of expression does not mean freedom from responsibility.”

Macklemore has built a lengthy track record of pro-Palestinian activism since Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, appearing at a Washington, D.C., rally that November to declare Israel’s military campaign in Gaza “a genocide.” 

Macklemore had a few hit songs over a decade ago before becoming nothing more than an activist, which has led many of Sheeran’s fans to question why he would book such a controversial opening act. Sheeran has not commented on the controversy as of Tuesday morning.